Vacant Seats In Gurukuls Sparks Row Over Negligence

An alleged crisis in Telangana's Tribal Welfare Gurukuls has come to light with over 2,500 sanctioned seats lying vacant even after multiple rounds of admissions - raising serious concerns about official negligence, and lack of responsiveness and transparency.

The issue has gained added significance as it centres around the erstwhile Palamuru region, represented by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy himself.

Of the 6,560 seats sanctioned across 195 Tribal Welfare Residential Schools, only 3,995 students have been admitted so far, and the other 2,565 seats remain unfilled despite four rounds of digital counselling.

It has been reported that meritorious students who figured in the official merit lists have been denied admission without any explanation.

Elected representatives, including MLAs and local body leaders, claim that their recommendations for deserving and underprivileged candidates were either ignored or dismissed outright by the authorities.

Parents and students have also raised alarms, accusing the system of deliberately sidelining eligible candidates.

The issue has become politically sensitive following reports that the Secretary of Tribal Welfare Gurukuls failed to comply with a directive from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO).

The CMO had asked all welfare education departments to submit detailed reports on total seats, admissions and existing vacancies. While other departments complied, the Tribal Gurukul administration allegedly failed to respond, prompting suspicions of administrative apathy or deeper irregularities.

Field-level reports from Mahabubnagar district reveal a disturbing pattern. Students who cleared the entrance exam have been forced to leg around. Some school principals have been accused of giving misleading information about vacancies or denying admissions altogether. Student bodies allege that some seats are being withheld, misused or sold, fuelling concerns of backdoor admissions.

Several affected students have expressed frustration, saying that despite qualifying fairly and attending counselling they were systematically denied entry.

The absence of a functional grievance redressal mechanism has worsened the situation, leaving many stranded as the academic year progresses without them getting enrolled.

That such a lapse has occurred in the Chief Minister's own home district has reportedly drawn sharp scrutiny. Observers warn that if this is the condition in a high-profile district, the situation in interior tribal belts could be even worse.

The controversy has triggered demands for urgent government intervention. Civil society groups and student unions are calling for an independent probe into the irregularities and a comprehensive audit of the digital admission process. They are also demanding top-level accountability and the immediate filling of vacant seats from the merit list, particularly with students from marginalised and economically weaker backgrounds.

With lakhs of tribal children relying on these residential schools for a path to a better future, the Gurukul admissions controversy has become a test of the government's commitment to inclusive education.