The government on Tuesday announced a number of measures aimed at improving the facilities at hostels it runs for students from BC, MBC, denotified and minority communities, and announced hikes in the stipends and allowances paid to boarders at these hostels.
The announcements were part of the reply given to the Assembly by Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Minister A Mohammedjan on the demand for grants of his department. The proposed improvements in the hostel ranged from facilities for the boarders such as blankets and floor mats to safety measures such as the installation of fire extinguishers and the upgradation of hostel libraries.
Napkin incinerators, aimed at safe disposal of sanitary pads, are to be installed in all 476 girls’ hostels run by the department, and also at 77 Kallar Reclamation High and Higher Secondary Schools, at `1.39 crore. Mohammedjan also announced that the government would provide new blankets and floor mats to all 80,064 boarders at its 1,294 hostels at a cost of Rs 1.94 crore.
Boarders staying at hostels attached to educational institutions are set to witness significant hikes in their food allowance and stipend. The monthly allowance for students of professional courses is set to rise from the current Rs 70-140 to Rs 350. Those in ITI, degree and PG courses who currently draw allowances of Rs 75-90 will now get Rs 225, while UG, Class XI and Class XII students will see their allowance rise to Rs 175 from the present Rs 75-80. The hike is aimed at benefitting 44,961 students.