After Vijay Hears Students’ Grievances, TN Announces Boost for Adi Dravida Hostels
‘Ambedkar reading centres’ would be built in the hostels to improve their reading habit and search for knowledge besides helping them to emerge successful in competitive examinations
CHENNAI: Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s visit to an Adi Dravida hostel at Saidapet and listening to the grievances of the students found its echoes in the schemes of the Adi Dravida welfare with social welfare minister Vanni Arasu on Thursday announcing an increase in food expenses provided by the government, and additional funds for the maintenance of such hostels, besides a separate organisation, called ‘Aran’, to supervise the hostels.
Vanni Arasu announced the increase in food expenses provided by the government to the Adi Dravida hostels for school students from Rs. 1,400 per month to Rs. 1,800 per month for each student. For college hostels, the expenses will be increased to Rs. 2,000 per month for each student, from Rs. 1,500.
Replying to the discussion on the demand for grants for the department in the Assembly, Vanni Arasu said Rs. 200 crore will be allocated for the purpose and it will improve the nutrition and health of the students staying in the Adi Dravida hostels.
The minister also announced an increase in the maintenance funds provided for the Adi Dravida and Scheduled Tribes hostels for school students from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 75,000 per year, while raising the same from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1 lakh for hostels for college students.
‘Ambedkar reading centres’ would be built in the hostels to improve their reading habit and search for knowledge besides helping them to emerge successful in competitive examinations.
A management organisation, ‘Aran’, will be formed to improve the administration, supervision and students’ welfare in Adi Dravida hostels. This will ensure quality administration, transparent supervision and quick grievance redressal, besides providing a safe and healthy atmosphere to help the education of students, he said.
The government also increased the annual maintenance funds given for Adi Dravida schools.
Vanni Arasu announced the construction of 150 hostels for the students belonging to Adi Dravida and Scheduled Tribes at a total cost of Rs. 160 crore. This will create an amicable situation for the students and help them progress in education, he added.
He said 100 community centres will be built in areas where people of Adi Dravida communities live in large numbers.
A commercial complex would come up at Coimbatore to encourage Adi Dravida and Scheduled Tribes entrepreneurs, he said, adding it will expand the production and marketing opportunities for such entrepreneurs and increase their income.
A tribal cultural centre will be formed in Chennai to protect their culture and arts.
The minister also announced a Social Justice Board for Adi Dravidas to provide them welfare schemes and improve their social and economic development. He said 23 Adi Dravida and Scheduled Tribe schools will be upgraded and the formation of the Social Justice Trust to help them in education and economic development.
He said MoUs will be signed with commercial banks to provide loans easily for Adi Dravida and Scheduled Tribes communities and special cooperatives would be formed for them.
A Sanitation Workers Welfare Committee will be formed to solve the grievances of sanitation workers and special anganwadis will be formed in 250 places where people of Scheduled Tribes communities live in large numbers. Also, 5,000 concrete houses for Adi Dravida communities and 2,000 houses for tribal communities and 2,500 houses for sanitation workers, will be constructed.
