Daijiworld Media Network – Moodbidri (SP)

Moodbidri, Jun 26: Dakshina Kannada district social welfare officer, Arun Furtado, taluk extension officer, H A Ramu, as well as members of Child Helpline team, conducted a departmental inquiry against the warden of backward classes pre-matric students hostel at Kadandale Poopadika near here, Babu, on Tuesday June 25.

It is alleged that the hostel warden had utilized services of three students of the hostel for his personal work. It is said that Babu had used tenth standard students, Pavan from Sakleshpur, Eshwar from Bagalkot, and Mallappa from Gulbarga, for household and farm work at his residence at Kantavara on June 23. There are allegations that the warden had got his personal work done through the hostel students in the past too. A departmental inquiry was ordered against him on the basis of complaints and media reports. The officials also visited Kadandale Subrahmanya Swamy High School, where these three students study, and collected information from the students as well as the headmaster, Shakaranarayana Rao.

Even though the warden initially maintained that the allegation was a handiwork of some persons who detest him, he reportedly confessed to his mistake later. The officials also found that the warden did not have knowledge about the number of students in the hostel. Policemen of intelligence cell in Mangalore also visited the spot and gathered information.

The department of backward classes welfare has issued notice to the warden seeking explanation for violating rules by employing hostel inmates for house work. It is gathered that the inquiry team has submitted its report to the commissioner of the department.