The Delhi government has announced plans to build dormitories for visually impaired college-bound girls in every district of the city. The main objective is to provide safe and accessible accommodations so that students with visual impairments can pursue higher education without any barriers. The announcement was made by Social Welfare Minister Ravinder Indraj Singh while he was visiting the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences, a government senior secondary residential school in Isapur village, Najafgarh, Delhi.
The minister met with locals and officials during the visit to talk about different student welfare and education programs. He asserts that improving living and educational opportunities for children from underprivileged and marginalized families is a priority for the government.
Focus on Reopening and Improving Hostels
Many dorms for Delhi's school and college students were closed as a result of the negligence of previous governments, Minister Singh said. He added that the current administration is working to reopen these hostels and build new ones to ensure that students have access to safe and comfortable housing.
Additionally, he noted that the government is taking action to address the irregularities that have been reported in coaching centers that help students get ready for competitive exams.
Isapur School Closure and Future Plans
The Isapur residential school was designed for students from Scheduled Caste (SC), Other Backward Class (OBC), minority, and orphan backgrounds, according to an official statement. It offered free lodging, meals, uniforms, stationery, healthcare, and even facilities for sports and vocational training.
However, due to the building's deterioration and a lack of funding for maintenance, the school was shut down in September 2024. Although the school could hold 1,200 students, about 800 were enrolled at the time of closure.
Hostel Inaugurated in Timarpur
The minister also announced that, as part of the Sewa Pakhwada initiative, a hostel for college girls with visual impairments was recently opened in Timarpur. In order to accommodate the needs of students throughout Delhi, he continued, the government intends to reopen the Sanskar Ashram in Dilshad Garden and establish one hostel in each district.
