Tribes Odisha: A scheme ‘Hostel for Scheduled Tribes Girls and Boys’ is being implemented by the Government of India. The objective of the scheme is to promote literacy among tribal students by providing hostel accommodation to such ST students who would otherwise not been able to continue their education because of their poor economic condition or the remote location of their villages.
The scheme covers the entire ST population in the country and is not area-specific. This is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. State Governments are eligible for 100% Central Share for construction of all Girls’ Hostels and also for construction of Boys’ Hostels in Maoist affected areas. For the other Boys’ Hostels, funding to State Government is on 50:50 basis. In case of UTs, the Central Government bears the entire cost of construction of both Boys’ and Girls’ Hostels.
The hostels under the Scheme can be constructed for middle, secondary, college and university level of education and also for Vocational Training Centres.
The State Government/UT provides the land for the building, free of cost. The State Govts are asked to create adequate basic amenities like toilets, bathrooms, drinking water, bedding, nutritious food and enabling environment for children in hostels and to provide sufficient supporting staff and funds in their State Budget for this purpose.
