Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will launch Vidyasiri, a new programme formulated by Department of Backward Classes to extend a monetary assistance of Rs 1,500 per month towards boarding and lodging to all post-matric students who do not find accommodation in government-run hostels, at Vidhana Soudha on October 1.
Social Welfare Minister H Anjaneya told reporters here on Saturday that this assistance will be given for a period of ten months and the money will be transferred directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiary students.
Attendance is compulsory for them to avail the facility of this scheme. Registration for this scheme will be opened on October 1 for 15 days. The students belonging to most backward classes have to apply with all relevant documents.
“We have plans to select 20,000 students under this scheme,” Anjaneya added.
Construction of additional classrooms
The Minister said the State government has formulated many schemes for the upliftment of the students belonging to SC, ST and backward classes.
The Social Welfare Department has taken up construction of additional 2,670 new classrooms, 2,766 toilets and 2,942 bathrooms in 2290 SC/ST hostels across the State. The shortage is more in Bijapur, Bellary, Davangere, Kolar and Chamarajnagar districts, he added. Construction of the rooms will be entrusted to Nirmiti Kendra, Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Corporation and Public Works Department with a condition that these works should be completed within three months, he said.
Higher education in foreign countries
Replying to a question, he said the department has paid Rs 9.86 crore for the admission of the poor and meritorious SC/ST students in prestigious schools from class 6 to 10.
The amount includes tuition fees, transportation, boarding, lodging and other fees. Besides, Rs 8.02 crore has been paid to 63 SC/ST students to pursue higher education abroad. The government will pay their maintenance and tuition fees after students secure admission into foreign institutions. “We want more students to take benefit of the scheme,” he observed.
Kannada, English residential schools
He said the department is ready to open English and Kannada medium residential schools in each hobli at a cost of Rs 8 crore, if MLAs come forward to arrange 10 acres of land near the main roads.
These schools will be on the lines of Navodaya Schools, he added.
On a petition filed against around 30 legislators, including him, for not following prescribed rules while taking oath as ministers, he said, “I consider Basavanna as my God. I am ready to take a fresh oath if I have committed any mistake.”