All hostels housing students of Backward Classes and Most Backward Classes will be renovated in one-and-a-half years, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa told the Assembly on Tuesday.
Intervening in a debate on the demands for grants to the Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Department, she said that those hostels, which were functioning from rented premises, would move to government-owned buildings within the specified period.
She recalled that during her previous regime (2001-2006), BC and MBC student hostels were renovated and they were functioning from government-owned buildings. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government took over in 2006 and it turned out to be a game of snakes and ladders as the upkeep of the hostels was neglected.
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Now, with the return of her regime, all the hostels would be given a facelift again. Repairs will be carried out, she said, amid thumping of desks.
Initiating the debate, Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Minister A. Mohammedjan informed the House that 942 out of the 1,238 hostels were in government buildings. While the construction of buildings for 148 hostels was in various stages of execution, the remaining 148 were accommodated in rented buildings.
Wrapping up the discussion, the Minister said that 28 hostels, including three for Muslim girl students and 25 for students of the BC, MBC and De-notified Communities, would be built at a cost of Rs.4.28 crore this year.
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As there were difficulties in issuing certificates for those belonging to Other Backward Classes, the department would develop software to redress grievances online and enable the issue of certificates through Internet. District Collectors would be allowed to increase the strength of the hostels by 10 per cent. This would entail an expenditure of Rs.5.11 crore to the exchequer.
An incentive of Rs.10,000 would be given to each of the high schools and higher secondary schools of the Kallar Reclamation Schools whose pass percentage was 95 and above.
Students of the BC, MBC and De-notified Communities' hostels, who finished in the first three slots in the 10{+t}{+h} standard and 12 standard examinations, would be given Rs.10,000, Rs.7,000 and Rs.5,000. A similar scheme would be implemented for the students of the Kallar Reclamation Schools.
The posts of 51 Tamil teachers will be filled in the Kallar Reclamation Schools by surrendering the posts of 51 graduate teachers.
The government will, hereafter, give Rs.20 lakh instead of Rs.10 lakh towards administrative expenses of the State Hajj Committee, the Minister said.