Question : WORKING WOMEN HOSTELS AND ASHRAM SCHOOLS

(a) The details of the scheme of ‘Hostels for Scheduled Tribes (STs) Girls and Boys’ being implemented by the Government along with the funds allocated thereof during each of the past three years and current year;

(b) Whether the residents of working women’s hostels, student hostels and Ashram schools being run by Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs), trusts, institution etc. are deprived of basic facilities in the country;

(c) If so, the details thereof and the further measures taken by the Government in this regard;

(d) Whether the Government proposes to set up any mechanism or committee for monitoring the said hostels, schools and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) Whether the Government also proposes to make the said hostels and schools hi-tech and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAI VASAVA)

(a): The details of the scheme of hostels for Scheduled Tribes girls and boys being implemented by the Ministry is given below:

The objective of the scheme is to promote literacy among tribal students by providing hostel accommodation to such ST students who would otherwise not been able to continue their education because of their poor economic condition, and the remote location of their villages. The scheme covers the entire ST population in the country and is not area-specific. This is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. State Governments are eligible for 100% Central Share for construction of all Girls` Hostels and also for construction of Boys` Hostels in left wing extremism affected areas (identified by Ministry of Home Affairs from time to time). For the other Boys` Hostels, funding to State Government is on 50:50 basis. In case of UTs, the Central Government bears the entire cost of construction of both Boys` and Girls` Hostels.

The scheme provides for the construction of new hostels and extension of existing hostel buildings for the middle, secondary, college and university levels of education. The State Government/UT provides the land for the building, free of cost. The running and maintenance of hostels is the responsibility of the State Govt./UT Administration/ University concerned. State Govts. are asked to create adequate basic amenities like toilets, bathrooms, drinking water, bedding, nutritious food and enabling environment for children in hostels and to provide sufficient supporting staff and funds in their State Budget for this purpose.

Details of funds allocated during each of the last 3 years and current year is given at Annexure.
(b) & (c) No such instance has come to the notice of the Government.

(d): In the hostels and residential schools for ST students run by NGOs, funded by Ministry of Tribal Affairs, stringent measures have been ensured by way of monitoring the projects through:
(i) Mandatory annual inspection by District Authorities.
(ii) Scrutiny of proposals by multidisciplinary State Level Committees for voluntary efforts every year.
(iii) Audited statements of accounts as well as Utilization Certificate pertaining to the releases.
(iv) Concurrent monitoring through an independent external agency.

(e): There is no such proposal.