The State government will ensure adequate boarding facilities for Scheduled Tribe (ST) students by constructing as many as 12 buildings across the State, Minister for Welfare of SC, ST and Backward Classes A.K. Balan has said.
He added that the ₹100-crore project would be funded by the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB).
He was speaking while inaugurating a post-metric hostel, constructed by the Scheduled Tribes Development Department, at Mannanthala on Monday.
Mr. Balan said hostels that functioned on rental basis would soon have buildings of their own.
Post-metric and pre-metric hostels for boys and girls, model residential schools in Kuttichal and Aralam, youth hostel, an Industrial Training Centre (ITC) building, and post-metric hostel capable of accommodating 100 girls in Kattela in Thiruvananthapuram had been planned under the KIIFB-funded project.
Nod for the project
Administrative sanction had also been accorded for the project, he said.
He added that the government aimed at providing quality education for SC and ST students and also ensuring job availability for those from such sections. The backwardness faced by these marginalised sections owing to the lack of own land could be overcome by ensuring a steady livelihood.
Job chances
The government has succeeded in ensuring job opportunities within and outside the country through its skill training programmes. Efforts were on to ensure employment in foreign countries for as many as 1,350 job aspirants.
Notably, a hundred people have already landed jobs in Malaysia, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Talks will be held with various companies from UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman this month as part of finalising more jobs, Mr. Balan said.
