New Delhi
In a reply to a question raised by MP Parimal Nathwani, Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Mansukhbhai Vasava today said in the Rajya Sabha that the Central government has allocated a total of Rs. 429.96 crore in the last four years for setting up hostels for students belonging to Scheduled Tribes (ST). Of the 1,481 hostels set up across the country for these students, 81 are in Jharkhand alone.
A total of 5,700 students belonging to the ST category will benefit from the 52 boys and 29 girls hostels in Jharkhand, he said.
The minister stated that for the Centre-sponsored scheme for ‘Hostels for ST boys and girls’; a grant-in-aid has been released to state governments and union territory administrations based on their requirements of such hostels.
The minister said that the releasing of fund under the scheme is a continuous process. The proposals for the requirement of funds for the establishment of these hostels need to meet all the requirements along with submission of progress reports of the funds released earlier. The allocation of funds is also subject to the availability of funds in the particular year.
As per the minister, the government has allocated Rs. 78 crore in 2012-13, Rs. 125 crore in 2013-14, Rs. 133.48 crore in 2014-15 and Rs. 133.48 crore in 2015-16. The grants-in-aid for construction of hostels are given under an umbrella scheme of education for ST students for financial year 2014-2015.
