The college hostels where COVID care centres were functioning have been handed over to the respective college managements in Thanjavur district. According to official sources, the hostels were handed over but the COVID care centres would be functioning in other venues. The hostels of the Government Engineering college in Sengippatti and the hostels of the two deemed to be Universities in Vallam area were used as COVID care centres and quarantine centres when the COVID pandemic was in peak in the district.
According to officials these hostels were handed over back to the colleges after disinfection and cleaning. Meanwhile, as the final year students of all streams of UG courses are going to return to the colleges from December 7, the work of cleaning the hostels are on.When contacted the officials of the backward welfare department, which manages six Government arts college hostels in the district, said the cleaning of the hostels are on. "The standard operating procedure (SOP) for accommodating students in the hostels is awaited", an official told TNIE.
The hostels managed by some colleges, were already spruced up with white washing and cleaning, it is said.In one of the colleges in the district when the officials spoke to the students who were allotted hostel rooms already, only around 50 percent students gave consent for staying in the hostel so far sources said. In most of the Government hospitals 5 to 10 students used to share a room and the officials are working out the SOP. Some officials said as the students are to return to the colleges in phased manner, that is only the final year students are returning to the college on December 7, there would be no problem in accommodating them as per the COVID-19 protocols.
