Baripada: As many as 15 more hostels for SC and ST students will be operated at various parts of Mayurbhanj district in the current year.
Besides, 10 Ashram schools were upgraded to Plus-II level and three more such schools would be upgraded to that level soon.
SC and ST welfare minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi Saturday revealed this at a review meeting on the implementation and functioning of his department’s various schemes and projects in the district.
Majhji held the review meeting at Prayas Conference hall in Murgabadi. The minister took stock of the functioning and implementation of hostels for SC and ST students, Anwesha Gruha and PGTA programme.
The district has 150 schools managed by the SC and ST welfare department. Of them, 102 are Ashram schools. The district also has two education complex and 31 girls’ hostels.
During the meeting, it was revealed that 5,000 children have been studying across the state under the Anwesha programme while 1,500 are in Mayurbhanj district.
The meeting also laid focus on streamlining accommodation system in hostels, studies, food, etc. The topic of constructing boundary walls for some hostels has also come up for discussion during the meet.
Over one lakh SC and ST students have been studying at various residential schools in the district while four ITDAs are functioning in the district for carrying out various development programmes for SC and ST people.
Deputy Speaker of state Assembly and Baripada MLA Sananda Marndi, Bangiriposi MLA Sudam Marndi, Badashai MLA Ganeswar Patra, Saraskana MLA Bhadab Hansda, Morada MLA Prabin Chandra Bhanjdeo, collector Surendra Kumar Meena and district welfare officer Krupasindhu Behera were present at the meeting. PNN