Chief Minister Raman Singh gave his nod to increase of 1,530 seats in the 40 Ashram hostels operating in the State for Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste children, official sources said on Saturday.
While 1200 seats have been increased in the 31 Ashram schools for scheduled tribe children, 330 new seats have been created in 12 pre-metric ashram hostels for scheduled caste children, officials sources said.
Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste Development Minister Kedar Kashyap said the necessary order has been issued by the department after obtaining due approval from Chief Minister Raman Singh.
The government has also sanctioned Rs15 crore for the new seats and towards the possible expenditure, he said.
The 15 ashram hostels where seats have been increased by fifty each include Adivasi Balak Ashram Dhabalpur in district Gariaband, Kamar balak prathamik ashram sala in Behradih (Jharia Bahar) under Mainpur development block in Gariaband, Adivasi Balak ashram and adivashi Kanyasharam Khod in Surajpur district.