Assam Government issued guidelines to reopen hostels across State

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Government of Assam has issued the following guidelines relating to the reopening of hostels in the educational institutions across the State:

GENERAL GUIDELINES:

1. Hostels will be re-opened in all the educational institutions of Assam from December 15, 2020 positively until further orders in respect of final-year hostel students of Engineering colleges/ degree colleges/ polytechnics/ universities/ residential schools (Classes X & XII of both government and private schools)/ coaching and training institutes.

2. Before re-opening of Hostels RAT (Rapid Antigen Testing) shall have to be done (compulsory) in respect of all Hostel Superintendents/ Wardens/ Hostel Supervising Officers/ Cooks/ Helpers engaged in the management of hostels, preparation and serving of food among the hostel students including cleaners who are entrusted with the task of cleaning and maintaining cleanliness of the Hostels.

3. The hostels shall have to be fully sanitized including the kitchens, toilets, bedrooms, dormitories. dining halls, seating halls etc., before the re-opening of hostels.

4. Regarding sanitization of hostels, RAT among the hostel superintendents/ Wardens/ Hostel Supervising Officers/ cooks/ helpers/ cleaners, etc., full responsibility will rest with the heads of the institutions.

5. In respect of students willing to come and stay in the residential hostels, consent in writing will have to be obtained from the parents of the students.

6. In respect of students and teachers of the degree colleges/ polytechnics/ universities/ residential schools (Class X & XII of both government and private schools)/ coaching and training institutes who will stay in hostels, RAT shall have to be done among the teachers and students before entering the hostels of the respective schools/ colleges/ universities/ educational institution.

7. Students will report to hostel in a phased manner (group wise). Groups' entry will be fixed and finalized by the heads of the institutions.

8. Staying in hostel for students will not be compulsory and will depend entirely on parental consent. However, after joining in hostel, attendance is to be regularly monitored.

9. Students will be accommodated in the dormitory in alternate beds i.e., by keeping one bed vacant between two students by reducing the number of inmates in each dormitory to 50% as per the requirement. Beds which are not to be occupied are to be properly labeled.

10. Temporary partitions may be erected to separate inmates/boarders, if required and feasible adequate distance between beds may be ensured.

11. Physical/social distancing must be maintained at all the times in hostels. Signage and messaging at prominent places should be ensured relating to COV1D-19 precautions and protocols.

12. Alternative space may be arranged to accommodate students to enable physical/ social distancing.

13. Initial preference for calling students to join back hostels may be given to students who do not have any support at home and also no facility for online education.

14. Students of final-year classes may he called first as per accommodation at the educational institutions.

15. Screening of every hostel boarder needs to be done before they start staying at the hostel. Only asymptomatic boarders shall be allowed to stay in the hostel.

16. Since students may be coming from different locations by using public transports such as buses and trains etc., it is important that they should minimize their contact and interaction with others on their arrival at hostel, and effectively maintain quarantine as per State/UT requirement. Their health status should be monitored during the period by the head of the institution through the engagement of a Nodal Health Officer.

17. Hostel should be out of bound for all persons except the essential staff with known and acceptable health status.

18. Medical team should inspect kitchen and mess at least once a week to ensure maintenance of hygiene.

19. Capacity building of hostel staff should be done on physical/social distancing norms, health and hygiene, clean and nutritious food etc., for hostellers.

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