Choosing the Block for the Girls' Hostel
The District Programme Officer has ₹48 lakh for one 100-bed girls' hostel and must choose a block before the sanction letter issues on 30 September. The file carries this table:
| Block | Female literacy (%) | Distance to nearest girls' college (km) | Girls' dropout at classes 9–10 (%) | SC/ST share of population (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 41 | 26 | 18 | 34 |
| B | 58 | 8 | 9 | 12 |
| C | 47 | 31 | 21 | 41 |
| D | 52 | 12 | 12 | 19 |
The MLA from Block B has written demanding the hostel for that block. Block B's 58 per cent is the district's highest female literacy, but the block already has two private hostels with about 60 vacant seats. Block C's 31 km means the nearest college is a two-bus journey each way. The officer must record reasons, because the MLA's letter will be attached to the file.
1. Which block should be chosen, and on what reasoning?
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The choice should be driven by unmet need, not by literacy or by political weight. Three criteria carry the decision: dropout at classes 9–10 (a direct measure of girls leaving the system at the transition point a hostel serves), distance to the nearest college (an access and safety barrier), and the share of SC/ST population (an equity signal, not a legal criterion).
Block B is the weakest case: its high female literacy reflects existing supply, and 60 vacant private seats mean a hostel there would compete with itself. The MLA's letter is not a criterion. Block D is mid-range on every count. Block A is a genuine contender at 18 per cent dropout and 26 km. Block C wins narrowly but clearly: worst dropout at 21 per cent, longest distance at 31 km, highest SC/ST share at 41 per cent. The note should say the margin over A is narrow, and that A should be ranked second for the next sanction.
2. Block C has 240 girls passing Class 8 each year. Taking the dropout rate as applying between Class 8 and Class 10, and assuming 70 per cent of those who continue need hostel accommodation because no college is within 10 km, does 100 beds match demand?
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Work it in two steps.
- Girls continuing to Class 9–10: 240 × (1 − 0.21) = 240 × 0.79 = 189.6, about 190.
- Of these, those needing a bed away from home: 190 × 0.70 = 133.
So demand is roughly 133 against 100 beds, meaning the hostel would fill and still leave a queue - a reasonable case for sanctioning it, with A next in line. The honest part of the note is the assumption: at 50 per cent needing accommodation, demand falls to about 95, below capacity. The officer should therefore record where the 70 per cent comes from - a quick survey of the feeder schools, or the fact that the nearest college is a two-bus journey - rather than presenting it as a measured figure. Sensitivity stated openly strengthens the file instead of weakening it.
3. What further data would you seek, and how should the MLA's letter be handled procedurally?
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Data to seek before signing: girls actually enrolled in Class 8 across Block C's feeder schools; number, fee level and occupancy of private hostels in each block; whether the 31 km is road distance and whether any bus service runs; land availability, water source and approach road at the proposed site; whether a KGBV or similar facility already exists in the block; and a short survey of why girls drop out, since distance may not be the only reason. Place the MLA's letter on the file with a written reply that sets out the criteria and the scoring, and note that Block B was assessed and scored lower because existing private capacity of about 60 seats is unutilised. Do not disparage the representation and do not ignore it. If pressure continues, refer the matter to the district-level sanctioning committee so the decision is collective rather than personal.