Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Jaswant Singh Bhabhor announced opening of 70 new Eklavya Residential schools for tribal students of the State in the coming days.
Addressing a programme at Aryabhatta Stadium in Ranchi on Wednesday, Bhabor lauded the efforts of State Welfare Department towards uplifting the scheduled tribe, scheduled caste, other backward classes and minority community of the State.
A total of 46 schemes under Integrated Tribal Development Authority (ITDA) were inaugurated by the Governor Droupadi Murmu during the programme. These 46 schemes, worth Rs 20.09 crore would be implemented only in Ranchi.
The various projects included construction and boundary wall construction of Sarna Sthal, Dhumkuria and other places of importance for tribals, inauguration of 300 bedded hostel for tribal boys in Karamtoli, handing over of houses constructed under Birsa Awas Yojana and others.
On the occasion Welfare Secretary Himani Pandey informed about the various ongoing projects of the welfare department and how they have benefitted the targeted communities.
She said, “The department has constructed 33 hostels for SC and ST students. Over 21,000 students have been given Rs 3,500 each through direct benefit transfer to buy cycles in year 2018-19. Many people have been provided compensation under the SC/ST prevention of atrocities Act.”
State Welfare Minister Louis Marandi pointed out that 143 schools have been opened for PVTG children in such remote areas from where the students could not commute to regular schools. She said, “Earlier, the budget allocated to each student in Government run residential schools was Rs 14,000 per year which has been increased to Rs 32,000, thus providing much better facilities to the children.”
Marandi also informed that the shortage of teachers in welfare schools has been solved by recruiting teachers on hourly payment basis. “The new rules for teachers recruitment in these schools has already been made and the permanent recruitment will commence soon,” she said.
The Welfare Minister also informed that State Scheduled Cast Commission has already been formed and the process of forming scheduled tribe commission is ongoing.
Chief Guest of the programme, Governor Droupadi Murmu said that there is a need to strengthen ITDA for the welfare of people. "It should not have a shortage of officers and should definitely have executive engineers and junior engineers for proper implementation of projects," she said.
Murmu said that it is sad to see that 75 per cent of the children belonging to particularly vulnerable Tribal Groups are malnourished. She said, "We should not just depend on government but also work ourselves towards our betterment. People should also consider their social responsibility and help people in need."
On the occasion, beneficiaries of Birsa Awas yojna were handed over the ownership of their new homes.