Pre Matric Hostels For Dalit Children in Kerala - A Study

Pre Matric Hostels for Dalit Children in Kerala- A study
Pre Matric Hostels for Dalit Children in Kerala A study
Introduction
Introduction
RIGHTS published a comprehensive report titled, Lessons of Discrimination in Development-Children of Dalit, Adivasi, and Fishing Communities in Kerala Development in 2011. The study focused on access to education and health for children from marginalized communities in Kerala. Through this study RIGHTS was able to expose the grave reality of the challenges in Education and Health faced by children from the margins, which remains hidden from much hyped and celebrated Kerala Model Development. The study received wide support and encouragement from the public, especially from groups working among the marginalized communities. Through collective efforts the findings of the study were presented to the Government and Planning Commission experts who enabled in initiating relevant discussions and resolutions. Unlike previous report which is focused on the challenges of marginalized communities on the whole, this time RIGHTS aim at various educational welfare schemes/ institutions provided to the marginalized communitys i.e Pre Matric Hostels for the Scheduled Caste, Model Residential School for the Scheduled Tribe and Regional Fisheries Technical Schools for the Fishing community. The first attempt of the series is the study of Pre Matric Hostels for the Scheduled Caste and we humbly present the study report for further discussions and actions.
RIGHTS TEAM
1
Methodology
It was in 1957 that the Scheduled Caste Department began the scheme of Pre Matric Hostels (PMH) with the aim of improving the educational status of economically backward children, both boys and girls belonging to the Scheduled Caste. The PMH cater to the educational needs of the targeted group of children from V to X standard. At present responsibility to manage PMHs vested with Local self governments and administrative control with Scheduled Caste Department. The PMH scheme which started with 5 hostels presently has 90 hostels across the 14 districts of Kerala1. It is important scheme of the department which is designed to benefits around 3,000 children belonging to the Scheduled Caste. The survey team visited 45 PMH across the state covering all 14 districts, and collected informations from hostel authorities, inmates, parents and the local leaders. The team also used questionnaire mainly to assess the infrastructure availability. To make the report comprehensive the team visited 50% hostels in kerala. The finding of the study is based on the interaction/ dialogue that we had with all stake holders and observation made by the team in each hostels. Out of the 45 hostels where the study was conducted 47% were Girls Hostel and the rest 53% was Boys Hostel.
1.
Scheduled Caste Development Guide 2011
. 2
To reach school we have to walk through a paddy field and also to cross a stream. It is difficult in rainy season. Sometimes we have to swim. -A group of hostellers.
Where the PMHs Locate

All most all PMHs are located in areas, which is difficult to access. Even in urban areas, hostels are located in remote locations where bus service and other transportation facilities are weak. Often the hostels are situated besides paddy fields, top of the hills, nearby irrigation canals, in midst of plantations and inside Dalit colonies! We can see a planning tactics based on caste and historic domination that push Dalit population in to fixed geographical areas getting repeated in the selection of location for PMHs . As fas as the students of Tamil and Kannada medium are concerned, the distance between hostels and their homes are too far. Children of Tamil dominated areas of Munnar has to depend on Tamil medium schools and hostels in Palakkad district. The Kannada medium students of Kasrgod also faces the similar problem. The important factor that makes PMH unattractive is its location, while on the contrary voluntary groups, communities and private organizations is building up Hostel Business targeting urban areas and accessible places.
The concept to provide good educational opportunity for dalit children was water down even at the beginning by selecting an inaccessible place to set up PMHs. Also it is important to note that there is a wide spread perception among those who run the PMHs systems that PMHs provide better facilities compare to pathetic lives of dalits in the state. This notion based on charity and benevolence sidetracks the rights based approach in its all activities.
Inmates of PMHs go to school by

Walk Privet bus School bus
78%
8%
14%
I would not have agreed to drop you here if I knew you had to come here. I thought you had to go to the church school hostel which is on the main road. You have pay double the actual fare. You also saw the condition of the road. None in the auto stand will come here. - an auto driver who was hired by the team.
Distance between PMH and Schools

Less than 1 KM 1-2 KM More than 2 KM
36%
30%
34%
Out of the 78%children who have to walk to school from the PMH, more than 15% of them has to walk more than 2km to reach the school. It may be a strange fact to know that only the students in PMH who would have to walk 2km and reach school in Kerala!. Even though many Government and Government Aided schools have the facility of bus services for students, the PMH inmates cannot avail these facilities. The eight percent children who travel by bus utilize the pocket money given to them for other needs to pay the bus fare. Children are not given bus fare by the department to travel and adding to the misery the pocket money distribution is also always being lagged for two to three months. The remote location of the hostels also poses problems on the safety of girl children who have to travel through the isolated roads daily to reach school. Thirty percent girl children who stay in hostels have to walk more than 2km to their school. Children themselves shared their safety concerns to us during our visit. Many of the PMH are located in such places where even an auto rickshaw cannot be hired to reach hospital in case of an Emergency.
It seems that availability of drinking water has not been considered as criterion for selecting the suitable place for hostels, which is a basic need to live. The trend often seen is that after establishing hostel in a water-deprived area, many projects/ private facilities are made use spending huge amounts to drinking water in the hostels. Drinking water shortage exists in majority of the hostels. The water in the wells and the bore wells also start draining by November. Many health and sanitary issues also arise by limiting the use of water.
Building
.Cant you see. The hostel is in an isolated area besides a paddy field. None comes to the area after 7:00 p.m. With no compound walls also, I am living with fear here each night with 21 girls. A female warden
83 percent of the Pre Matric hostels have owned buildings while the rest 17 percent hostels function in rented buildings1. The hostel buildings planned and constructed by the Public Works Department often possess the same structure and design. The unique features of the hostels are the narrow corridors, small rooms and congested dormitory with restricted space. There is no hostel where there is facility to accommodate study table, chair, cupboard and bed together in a single room or dormitory. The actual number of inmates in each hostel is 30 percent less than what has been sanctioned. At present, many hostels managed limitation of space with this shortage!. The failure in providing even the basic amenities for children often prevents parents from sending their children to the hostels. The Age of the inmates, study atmosphere, geographical factors etc are not scientifically examine or considered for design the hostels buildings. Repairing of buildings and other facilities never carryout any hostels on a time bound manner.
1
Scheduled Caste Development Guide 2011
When hostel wardens inform the Local Self Government about any urgent repair works in the hostel, instead of giving attention to those works they often show interest in other money intensive projects of roofing , Rainwater harvesting etc. All hostels that have used European closets in their toilets are completely damaged and unusable. In many hostels, the toilets in the first floor have become dysfunctional and dirty due to the scarcity of water and leak in the roofs. Due to the scarcity of water, all children in the hostels depend on the toilets in the ground floor. 46 percent of the toilets have damaged doors or no door, and no locks. In many places toilets that constructed inside dormitory poses health and hygiene problems. Broken tiles and floors seems to be a common sight in hostels.
Generally the hostel lacks facilities and is not hygiene. I am not ready to send my children here- a hostel staff
13 percent of the hostels do not have sufficient cots for the present inmates. As specified earlier PMH currently accommodates only 30percent less of the sanctioned number of children. Hence, the actual number of hostels with insufficient cots for the sanctioned number will be definitely high. Many hostels do not have sufficient beds also. The beds and cots also has rear and tear with the continuous use of it for years.
Hostels without sufficient cots Hostels without sufficient study table Hostels without sufficient lights Hostels without sufficient fan
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13% 36% 53% 44%
36 percent of the hostels lack sufficient study tables and chairs for children. Because of this, children have to sit in their cots for long time and bend forward and do their reading and writing works. There are no sufficient cupboards also in some hostels for the children to keep their books, clothes and other accessories. They were seen to be kept in plastic bags, paper boxes etc. There are no sufficient electric lights in 44% of the hostels. In many hostels there are only one or two C.F.L lamps in a dormitory. Majority of the hostels does not have proper lighting in bathrooms and toilets. 53 percent hostels do not have properly working fans in the rooms. It can also be seen that the materials used for electrification in the hostels are of low quality hence did not last long. We have seen broken and uncovered eclectic wires, broken and exposed plug points, uncovered fan regulators in many hostels which is also pose serious thret to the children in the hostels.
Hostels without
Compound wall 29% Play ground 91% Television 51% Telephone 100%
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In 29% PMHs there are no compound walls. 15% hostels for girls also do not have compound walls. Lack of compound walls raises concern about the safety of the girls in the hostels. In 91% of the hostels, there is no playground and in 51% of the hostels, there are no televisions. There is limited facility for the children of V to X standard for physical and mental refreshment and for development of the innate abilities of the children. Though there are books in some hostels there is no arrangements made to distribute the books among inmates. In the modern era when children gain information and knowledge from the audiovisual media, the children in PMHs have limited scope for it. Even though majority of the hostels has been given computers, the hostel staffs have not received any training to use it or train children and hence computers remain idle in these hostels. No hostels have telephone facility. Mobile phones of hostel staff are used for communication between parents and children which often creates inconveniences to both the staff and family. Another important issue concerning girls is that they do not have proper facility to destroy the used sanitary napkins. They deposit it in toilets, which often create blocks in the septic tanks. As specified earlier, 17% of the hostels function in rented buildings. It is shocking to say that these hostels can be seen as hell on earth and nothing less than that. The general environment of the PMH in rented buildings is unclean and destroyed and unusable toilets, leaking roofs, children living crowded in small rooms and buildings having not undergone maintenance work for many years! Even though land has been bought for some of the hostels presently existing in rented building to build hostel buildings most of them are in administrative-legal disputes!
11
No Health Cards, Health Check up Register or other records related to monitor the health of children are maintained in any of the hostels.
There is no definite policy guideline or instructions exist regarding health of children living in PMHs. 22 percentage hostels have reported cases of communicable diseases and epidemics in last five years. Viral Fever, Chicken Pox, scabies are some of the common illness affecting children. The health of the inmates is directly linked to the hygiene of the hostels, availability of safe drinking water and quality and quantity of food being provided. Fall or lack in any of the above mentioned factors will harmfully affect the health of children. Usually when children fall sick they are taken to the nearby Primary Health Centre (PHC) or immediately sent them home. There is no facility/ system for monitoring the health status of the children at regular intervals. No Health Cards, Health Check up Register or other records related to monitoring the health of children are maintained in any of the hostels. The health workers from PHC visit the hostels once in a while for name sake without any seriousness to the purpose of doing it. No efforts have been made to understand/ assess the nutritional status of the children and hence no specific protocols are followed to meet childrens needs.
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Food
The menu and time for food fixed across the state on certain specifications given by the department at state level. It is doubtful that whether the proposed menu, the quality and quantity of the food severed in the hostel are based on any recommendation given by nutrition experts or based on any scientific knowledge about the growth of the children. The hostel authorities gave unclear reply to the query regarding this. Also the local food habits and tastes have not been considered in fixing the menu.
Price index of essential goods in Kerala1 Year 2006 2007 1475 2008 1548 2009 1746 2010 1839
1
2011 2078
2012 2172
2013 2410
Price Index 1413
Department of economics and statistics government of Kerala
13
Price variation of essential commodities 2008 to 20131

Sl No Commodities Unit Price/ Unit
2008
2009 22.9 77.5 83.2 52.5 89.5
2010 24.6 76.4 79.3 46.7 76.9
2011 26.52 71.8 75.27 44.43 72.48
2012 36.69 72.29 64.67 72.29 78.14
2013 36.64 72.64 63.33 71.21 77.07
A
1 2 3 4 5
Cereals
Rice (Red) OM Matta Greengram Blackgram Redgram Dhall (Tur) Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg 19.8 45.8 49.8 33.1 51.9
B
6 7 8
Other Food Items

Milk (Cows) Egg (Hens Nadan) Sugar (OM) Lr Dozen Kg 20 39.8 20.6 20 45.3 34.2 21.2 46.4 32.4 23.86 52.3 30.36 32.57 60.6 36.79 32.71 60.96 35.39
C
9 10 11 12
Oil and Oil seeds

Coconut Oil Groundnut Oil Refined Oil Coconut (Without Husk) Lr Lr Lr 10 nos. 62.6 90 80.7 69.9 53 78.6 64.2 60.8 59.7 78.1 65.3 64.2 100.3 95.59 84.11 110.8 71.79 116.7 91.71 85.29 77.43 121.7 92.29 92.5
D
13 14 15 E 16 17 F 18
Spices & Condiments

Coriander Chillies (dry) Onion (small) Tubers Tapioca Potato Fruits & Vegetables Banana Kg Kg Kg 99.5 76.4 27.3 64.3 80 36.9 52.6 70.6 22.3 70.3 109.1 33.2 71.64 79.93 51.36 76 80.36 43.93
Kg Kg
8.7 14.6
8.96 24.9
11.4 15.9
14.78 17.79
14.43 25.71
14.92 25.86
Kg
15.4
23.4
24.8
25.72
35.07
42.64
In the morning we get Sambhar, noon they add rice soup to it , and in the evening hot water is added children in hostel
It can also be seen that the Mess Allowance has been increased to Rs. 1300/-per child per month in 2009. But when comparing it with the rise in food price, it is clearly evident that the amount is quite insufficient. In Kerala the price index of essential goods was 1746 point in 2009 and it has increased 38% to be at the present rate which is 2410 point. But the mess allowance remains same during these years.
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It can be clearly stated that the uncontrolled increase in food and fuel prices is having negative impacts on the quality and quantity of food being served in the hostels. The wardens in the hostels are often forced to reduce the quantity of food being served owing to the steep increase in food price as there is no provision of reimbursing the money they would spend to compensate the price increase. Few wardens unofficially confirm that the milk and egg are the two items that often vanish from the menu.
Chart is Based on food charge statements of December 2008 and January 2013 of 5 Hostels from different districts
It is evident that decline in quantity of Rice and Pulses consumption which are essential for childrens health. Often fish and meat are just served for name sake. Fruits have completely disappeared from the menu. Vegetables are not bought according to the nutritional value but according to the price value.
15
There is a general trend of buying the vegetable that is the cheapest in the market. The price of an LPG cylinder was Rs.300 in 2006 and in 2013 it has increased upto 308% and presently cost Rs.1,224 per cylinder( as the govt. subsidy has been withdrawn). Thus in many PMH firewoods are used for cooking. This causes difficulty to the children who have to carry their lunch to schools as it takes long time for cooking. In some hostels children are forced to have the same food in morning and noon. Many cooks shared the practical difficulty to cook Chappathi and Poori which are generally preferred by children. It can be concluded that children cannot be provided with the food they prefer.
The bargaining capacity of the hostel staff with local/privet venders are seriously compromised due to delay in settling their bills.
Delay in reimbursements of bill in PMH1s 1 Month 2 Months 16% 44%
3 Months and more 31% On time

1
9%
In most cases hostel wardens need to advance amount for hostel running expense , in few places wardens provided recurring advance but that also not sufficient
There is also delay in settling the monthly bills often from one month to six months. In 31% PMH there is more than three months lag in settling the bills. This is an issue which has direct relation with the quality and quantity of food being provided. In 75% hostels this lag is for more than 2months. In these situations, it is the hostel wardens who find money from themselves and others to run the hostels. Many wardens do this sincerely. Many are not even able to draw their salary regularly because of this lag. But it cannot be denied that many undesirable trends are being promoted because of this method. Though it has been instructed to buy goods from Government stores, many hostels do not put it into practice owing to the convenience and accessibility. Moreover for vegetables, fish and meat they depend fully on private vendors. The bargaining capacity of the hostel staff with local/privet venders are seriously compromised due to delay in settling their bills. Often the quality of supplies from private venders cannot be questioned and hostellers have to be satisfied with whatever venders provided. With all these constraints the reality can be concluded as that the quality and quantity of food provided to children is at a low level.
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Staff
The job is suitable for a person who does not have family or other responsibilities. In Kerala which other job has 24 hour duty - a hostel warden.
There are five posts PMH viz. one warden, two cook, one watcher, and a part time sweeper. 25 % of the PMH staff are daily wage workers. No specific job descriptions and job timings have been put forth official and this affects the hostel wardens most. They work based on the instructions given by the Department officials from time to time. The position of Warden is defined below Lower Division Clerk an above Last Grade Servant! Technically, warden has to work 24 hours, has huge responsibilities and has least chances for promotion and as a result there is a common trend to leave the job at the first opportunity received. Hence it is often concluded that the rate of staff turnover is high. Facilities like staff quarters has not been even thought of anywhere in the hostels. The hostel wardens are not given any training regarding, how to interact with children, to understand their characters or the parental strategies. These flaws are clearly reflected in the behavior of the wardens towards the children. The basic educational qualification required for warden is Class X pass. From these specifications itself one could understand the carelessness with which post of the warden is designed, who is the head of each hostel and who has to be the guardian of 30-50 children of V- X th class hailing from socially and educationally backward backgrounds. The situation of other staffs also is similarly pathetic. The security guards also technically are on 24 hour duty which is impossible for humans. Often only the cook would be available in the hostels at night. There is difference in the pattern of payment of wages for the cooks who are employed for daily wages in each district. In reality there is need for a full time sweeper instead of a part time sweeper in each Hostel.
17
Allocation of Budget for PMH1

Financial year Scheduled caste Amount set sub plan (SCSP) aside for PMH 2007-2008 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 605 847.43 1005 983.45 1178.18 4.13 4.2 4.64 5.42 7.68
1
Figures in crores
Percentage of (SCSP) 0.68 0.50 0.46 0.55 0.65
Amount spent 3.44 3.96 4.43 4.47 6.74
Percentage 83 94 95 82 88
Information received under RTI from Scheduled caste department
An average of only 0.57 % allocated to PMH from Scheduled caste sub plan (SCSP) during last five budgets. One of the major factors for resource scarcity of PMH is this restricted budget allocation. From the amount that has been allocated only 88 percent of it is utilized. The responsibility for improvement of basic infrastructure of the PMH in principle lies with the Local Self Government (LSG). What happens with the LSG is that often they do not allot money from their own fund for the development of PMHs. Hostels do not come under the priorities of LSG s. the PMH faces problems not only with basic infrastructure development, but in all spheres and thus, scarcity of resources creates difficulties for the hostels.
18
Observations
1 2 3 4 5 6
34%of children in the Hostels study in Government Aided schools. There are instances where efforts are made by private Aided school authorities to shift the PMH inmates from Government schools to Private Aided schools. To avoid loss of division, the uneconomic schools make use of agents to bring children of PMH to the Private Aided schools. Though tutors have been appointed in many hostels their service cannot be availed by students regularly and effectively. Moreover, the salaries of the tutors are also lagged on an average of more than three months and this affects the teaching and learning process at the hostels seriously. PMH is started to provide better education. But there is no facility for providing the required study supports or to regularly assess the progress of childrens studies and performance. The Advisory Committee does not meet regularly or monitor the functioning of the hostels. It is common to engage children in cleaning their own rooms. And it is not uncommon in days when PTS takes leave children are made to clean even the toilets. There is no facility to nourish the co-curricular activities of the children.
19
Given below are some of the comments given by some of the staffs. The attitude of a section of staffs is very well reflected here;
However low quality food is provided in hostels , it will be better than what these kids get in their homes If we give eggs and milk the girls here will look the boys
It is to become Slim Beauties that the children are not eating enough food. How much we give, they are not satisfied
Even if you study , you people will not be good Many parents feel that even if they wont study, they get meals three times a day and that is enough There is high tendency among students for destruction
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Recomandations
To be implemented immediately
1. Presently only 1% of Scheduled Caste Sub Plan(SCSP) is spend for PMH. This should be increased to at least 5percentage. 2. As all the PMH are situated in remote areas and it is difficult for children to access schools and other health care facilities due to lack of transport facilities, the following suggestions are made: In all the places where the distance between hostel and school is more than one km, school bus facility should be provided for all students , the expenses of which would be beared by the LSG /Department for Scheduled Caste Development. A system of Transport facility to be arranged in all hostels which can be made use of at any time.
3. Reserve funds for the hostel to undertake timely repair works as per the instruction of the hostel warden. 4. To decide on the quality of products used for the repair works. Authorize hostel management committee to monitor the quality of the equipments. The contractors who do not maintain quality could be included in the black list and procedures could be initiated to impose fine on them. 5. Establish Land phones in every hostel. 6. Immediately provide furnitures, cots according to the number of inmates and other facilities according to the sanctioned number.
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7. Make provisions for food and accommodation for parents who are not able to return back on the same day after visiting their children in the hostels which are in remote areas.
8. Establish smart education rooms in every hostel with minimum three computers and Internet and other modern Information gaining technical equipment. Appoint a teacher separately to train children.
9. Provide facilities for children to develop physically and mentally by involving in arts and sports activities. Sports equipment should be made available. In hostels where there are no play grounds make provisions for it.
10. Immediately shift all the PMH functioning in rented buildings to the own buildings. Appoint a special officer to complete the formalities relating to law and administration.
11. Construct compound walls in all hostels where it is not present especially the in girls hostel.
12. Give first priority to provide basic infrastructure which includes, clean toilets, clean bathrooms and safe drinking water.
13. Provide facility to distribute sanitary napkins free of cost when in need and also establish a machine in girls hostels to destroy used napkins.
14. Prepare a food menu or food combination in accordance with locally favored foods and also in consultation with health experts and nutrionists.
15. To develop monitoring system to monitor the distribution of food prepared according to the food menu suggested by nutritional experts, whether the food reaches children in the right quality and quantity.
22
16. Provide subsidies to every hostel for purchasing Rice, Atta and Pulses.
17. Provide Subsidy for LPG cylinders to hostels.
18. Improve the food menu by including more fruits in it.
19. Reform the mess charge allowance system by making it flexible in accordance with the current increase or decrease in price index.
20. Issue a circular soon fixing the job description and duty time of all the employees of the hostels.
21. To reschedule the existing mechanisms of Panchayath and the Departments in such a way to avoid lag in settling the bills of the hostels.
22. Make sure that children are provided with the uniform, books and other accessories needed at the beginning of academic year itself.
23. Increase the amount of pocket money given to children to atleast Rs. 200/- and make sure that they receive it regularly.
24. To reestablish hostel libraries in such a manner that children are able to utilize it properly.
23
Suggestions to be implemented in future

1. On selecting the location for new hostels , certain basic factors need to be taken for consideration i.e ensure the availability of safe drinking water, easy accessibility and safety of children.
2. It is to be brought to attention while constructing new buildings for hostels that the scientific design of the buildings should cater to the unique physical and mental characteristics of children and should stimulate their studies.
3. Some of the hostel buildings are unfit to use as they are that old and also by their deformities in construction.
4. At least once in two years children are to be produced for Health CheckUp and each child should be given a health card and Health Check Register should be maintained in every hostel.
5. Establish a sick room in all hostels.
6. Ensure that in every hostel there is service of a counsellor for at least three days a week.
7. Increase the basic educational qualification prescribed for wardens. Provide trainings to all wardens based on Child Rights , Constitutional rights of the Scheduled Caste and other related matters.
8. Part Time sweepers should be appointed as Full time sweepers
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9. Ensure that the warden stays in the hostels at night.
10. Make permanent appointments to all the posts in the PMHs
11. Upgrade the post of warden and also provide opportunities for promotion like other Government employees.
12. Provide Staff Quarters adjacent to the PMH .
13. Prepare progress report to assess the academic quality of children. Based on this report academic performance can be evaluated and the required encouragement can be given.
14. Provide training to children on co-curricular activities with the help of experts from the field.
15. Appoint an employee equal to the post of Secretary as Ombudsman for the hostels.
16. Make strict measures to convene Advisory Committee meeting once in every month.
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a Society for Human Rights is an evidence based Human Rights organization. RIGHTS is working towards the realization of a just and equitable society, where all human rights are fully and duly respected. RIGHTS primarily working with Dalits, Adivasies and Fishing Communities and concentrated on the issue of education and health of the children from these communities
Tc16/1051, C.S Road, Jagathy, Trivandrum - 14, kerala Tel: 0471 2326455, +91 9895853646 rightsfirst@gmail.com, www.facebook.com/rightsasia

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