In an attempt to reach out to maximum number of underprivileged children deprived of basic facilities, the Welfare department has decided to upgrade 65 middle and high schools. The step has been taken to curb the dropout rate in State. Minister, Social Welfare, Women and Child development, louis Marandi while reviewing the ongoing schemes of the department made the announcement here on Friday.
The Minister further added that the department is striving hard to streamline the education system for poor children. “In the fiscal year 2015-16, the department has been successful in making operational 11 Eklavya Model residential schools in State. The department had planned to run 33 Eklavya Model residential schools in 2014,” said Marandi.
“The department has drafted the regulation for recruiting 500 teachers in all the schools running under the Social Welfare Department. Similarly, looking at the basic need of kids and rising price of commodities, the rate for basic commodities has been increased by the department. Earlier Rs. 14,590 was allotted for food, school uniforms and school kits. Revising the rate, now Rs. 32,410 will be given for all the essential commodities now,” added the Minister.
The department has planned to cover 34 lakh students under the scholarship scheme for the year 2017-18. Covering quite a number of students, the department has also decided to cover up poor students of primary wing (starting from class 2) as well under this pivotal scheme.
Highlighting on one of the most ambitious project, Skill Development Scheme, the department has collaborated with PreJha Foundation. At present the foundation is operating ten ‘Kalyan Gurukool’ in State and has taken up the responsibility to train 2,792 youths in different traits. Here too, the regulations have been made seeking the total population of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). According to the reports, 73 per cent students come under ST category while 61 per cent falls under Primitive Tribe Groups (PTG). The department aims to cover underprivileged ST students predominately under the Skill development scheme.
This year, 15 additional units of ‘Kalyan Gurukul’ will be established to train around 9,000 youths across the State. Besides this, Skill Development College and a nursing college will be opened in the Capital city. The department has also received Rs. 38 lakh from the Central government for covering 253 schemes in 44 minority blocks. Also, under education loan guarantee scheme, the department has allocated Rs. 50 crore for the purpose.
Under Mukhya Mantri Kanyadaan Yojana, this financial year, 16,000 beneficiaries will be covered up under the scheme. In 2016, 11510 beneficiaries were benefited out of this scheme. The department has started its ambitious scheme Tejaswini for adolescents and females up to 24 year in 17 districts of the State. Setting five years target for the scheme, Rs. 540 crore will be expended across Jharkhand for the beneficiaries under Tejaswini programme.
For real time monitoring of Anganwadi centres, ‘Dainik’ mobile application has been developed to keep a track of all centers. 10,388 ‘Poshak Sakhi’ has been deployed at various Anganwadi centres. The department has covered two lakh girls under lakhami laadli Yojana.