Centre clears scheme to set up Girls' hostel

New Delhi, Oct 3 (UNI) The government today sanctioned Rs 2,000 crore as its share for the construction of girls hostels for students of secondary and higher secondary schools in each of the educationally backward block during the eleventh plan period under a revised centrally-sponsored scheme.

A meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, set a target of constructing 3,500 such hostels during the eleventh plan period.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram told mediapersons that the Centre would bear 90 per cent of the expenses connected with the construction of the hostels with the state's share being 10 per cent.

The Centre would also provide recurring grant to meet the needs of inmates of these hostels.

UNI SH RR AS1447