Ranchi, March 13 Jharkhand Minister for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes Welfare, Chamra Linda, blamed the Centre on Friday for delaying the release of around Rs 900 crore, saying it had hindered the payment of post-matric scholarships for SC/ST and OBC students in the state.
Responding to a cut motion on the grant demands of his department, moved by BJP MLA Neera Yadav in the assembly, Linda also said that the funds were needed as the government seeks to modernize two hospitals meant for tribal and SC communities.
“We are ready with our share, but the Centre has not released its share of Rs 900 crore, which has delayed the transfer of scholarship amounts for SC/ST and backward students. However, at the directive of our Chief Minister Hemant Soren, we are arranging the amount from internal resources so that scholarships can be paid at the earliest,” he said.
Earlier, Leader of the Opposition Babulal Marandi and BJP MLA Purnima Das raised the issue of pending scholarships for SC/ST and OBC students in the House.
The minister said the demand for grants for the department was necessary to improve education and health facilities for SC/ST and OBC communities.
He said the government has plans to upgrade and renovate two hospitals meant for tribal and SC communities, which will be equipped with modern diagnostic facilities, including MRI.
Linda also informed the House that a polytechnic would be set up on the campus of Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, in Ranchi, to offer nursing, ITI and BEd courses for SC/ST and OBC students.
“The cabinet has already approved the proposal for the polytechnic,” he said.
The minister said that 550-bed hostels for OBC, SC and ST students are being constructed in Ranchi, Palamau, Deoghar, Dhanbad, Dumka, Hazaribagh and Chaibasa.
Responding to opposition criticism over the absence of cooks and night guards at tribal hostels, he said the tender process for appointing cooks, night guards and other staff would begin soon so that students do not face difficulties.
Linda also said the government plans to rent a large apartment in New Delhi to provide UPSC coaching for meritorious tribal students.
“We have entered into an agreement with a reputed institution to provide coaching for IIT and engineering courses at our centre in Ranchi, and two tribal students have already cleared IIT Mains from these centres,” he said.
He added that special coaching centres have also been opened in Ranchi to help OBC and SC students prepare for engineering and medical entrance examinations.
The minister further said the government plans to construct three-storeyed Dhumkuria Bhawans (cultural institutions) in every district of Jharkhand with libraries, halls and cultural centres to help students access study materials for competitive examinations.
The demand for grants for the department was later passed by voice vote in the assembly.
