Gehlot exhorts Rajasthan govt to have more hostels for SC, ST students in education hubs

Union Minister Thaawarchand Gehlot today asked officials in Rajasthan to approach the Centre for opening hostels for students belonging to the SC/ST categories in districts emerging as education hub.

Gehlot, the Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, made the pitch while reviewing the implementation of various social welfare schemes in Rajasthan.

He told the officers concerned in the state to forward proposals to the central government for opening hostels for students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) categories in districts which are emerging as educational hub, according to a state government release.

"These hostels will help the students get more facilities along with the studies," Gehlot said, noting that Rajasthan has performed well as compared to other states in terms of construction of hostels for SC and ST students.

The minister said that some of the social welfare schemes run by the state government are so good that the Centre is also planning to start new programmes on their lines, according to the release.

Rajasthan's Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Arun Chaturvedi briefed Gehlot on the state government's schemes and informed him that online application system for the schemes has been put in place to bring transparency in the process.

Department's Additional Chief Secretary J C Mohanty and Director Sumit Sharma, among other officers, were present during the review meeting.