Jhargram, 15 July (H.S.): A 100-bed tribal hostel built in 2014 at Shilda Chandrasekhar College in West Bengal's Jhargram district has remained locked and unused for over a decade. The long-abandoned facility is now set for restoration, with BJP MLA Pranat Tudu taking the initiative to make it operational.

Constructed by the then Trinamool Congress government through the Backward Classes Welfare Department, the hostel was intended to provide accommodation for tribal students from remote areas pursuing higher education. However, despite its completion and inauguration, the building has never been used and has deteriorated due to years of neglect.

Local students and educationists have alleged that the previous government failed to utilise the facility, depriving tribal students of access to residential accommodation. They claim repeated appeals to make the hostel functional went unanswered, leaving a valuable public asset abandoned.

Following the change in government in the state, students and parents have expressed hope that the hostel will finally become operational. They believe the new administration's focus on improving educational infrastructure could help address the long-pending issue.

Students Gurupada Bera and Ritam Mahanta said many parents hesitate to admit their children to the college because there is no hostel facility. They said the number of admissions is expected to increase once the hostel is opened.

College Principal Sushanta Dolui said that after taking charge in 2023, he found the hostel lying abandoned. He added that the matter had been raised repeatedly with the previous government, but no action was taken.

BJP MLA Pranat Tudu, who has inspected the hostel twice, said repair work has begun. According to him, the water supply issue has already been resolved, while electricity and other essential infrastructure are being restored. He expressed confidence that the hostel would be made habitable and opened for students within the next two to three months.

Tudu also appealed to Jhargram Trinamool Congress MP Kalipada Soren to extend support for the project in the interest of tribal students.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey