Tribal students benefit from Chhattisgarh Govt.'s 'Hostel Scheme'

Raipur, Dec 21 (ANI): In its endeavor to promote literacy in the State, particularly tribal children, the Chhattisgarh Government has launched a 'Hostel Scheme' in several interior villages.

The literacy rate is comparatively quite low in several villages of the State.

Education is imparted from Class 1 to 8 under this scheme, and the Government has set up around 110 hostels in Mahasamund District, where more than 5,000 students are presently enrolled.

"The Government has launched this scheme with the motive that children belonging to the Scheduled Cates and Scheduled Tribes get quality education. Under this scheme, the children are provided with free food and shelter," said J. R. Rathiya, Assistant Commissioner, Tribal Development, Mahasamund.

Moreover, under this scheme, the students are provided with free books and a scholarship of upto Rs. 450 per month.

"The hostel provides us with free books, copy, uniforms, shoes and socks. We feel very good here and even the education imparted to us is of high-quality," said Kumeshwar Kumar, a student.

"We are provided with free text books, copy books and clothes. I really thank the Government for this," said Inderjeet Singh, another student.

The initiative of the Government's 'Hostel Scheme' has shown a new path to several male and female village students. Poverty accompanied by lack of awareness makes life more miserable for them. This scheme has changed the outlook of the students and they are looking forward to a bright future.

"This scheme has been launched for the over all development of the children. In the normal course the parents are not able to give good education to the children as they are poor," said Shatrughan Kumar Dhruv, Principal, Ashram Hostel, Mahasamund.

The poor children used to come under the influence of Maoists and face difficulties. That does not happen now.

The Government has planned to spend around Rs two crores and seventy-five lakhs under this scheme in 2010-11. (ANI)