Patna: The Bihar government will build 23 new hostels and 13 residential schools for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students in Bihar under the Mukhyamantri Chhatravas Yojana and the Mukhyamantri Awasiya Vidyalaya Yojana. Both schemesare expected to be completed within two years.

There are 111 hostels across the state for SC and ST students with a total strength of 5,500 students at present. After 23 new hostels come up, the facilities will be able to host 9,100 students. The works are expected to be completed within 1.5 years from now.

Apart from hostels, the state government will also add 13 new residential schools and among them 12 would be for SCs and one for students from the ST community. Presently there are 80 such facilities in the state.

After addition, the total strength of hostels for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe would become 47,520 and 19,440, respectively. The works are expected to be completed within two years.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar unveiled the plans under Mukhya Mantri Anusuchit Jati Evam Janjati Chhatravas Yojana, Mukhya Mantri Awasiya Vidyalaya Yojana and Mukhya Mantri Anusuchit Jati Evam Janjati Protsahan Yojana on August 14 this year.

Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe welfare minister Dr Ramesh Rishidev said: "Following chief minister Nitish Kumar's announcement, the department geared up to deliver. The department would leave no stone unturned regarding the welfare of SC and ST community in the state."

Department secretary Prem Singh Meena said: "The department made online payment to 20 candidates who applied for benefits under chief minister financial assistance scheme for SC/ST students clearing preliminary tests of civil services examinations conducted by Union Public Service Commission and Bihar Public Service Commission. The Bihar government announced to provide Rs 1.5 lakh for candidates who cleared UPSC and BPSC preliminary tests on May 8 2018.

The secretary of the SC and ST welfare department said the state government also decided to turn 28 residential schools for SC and ST community students into Plus II schools which have 3 to 5 acres of land. A total budget of Rs 34.80 crore has been sanctioned by the department for the purpose. The schools would be equipped with modern infrastructure such as laboratory for science practical, computer lab, smart classes and dedicated playground, including modern toilet and drinking water facilities.

On the condition of existing residential schools and hostel facilities for SC and ST students, the department secretary Prem Singh Meena told reporters that the complaints about infrastructure deficiencies and lack of adequate teachers and staff raised by students had been taken up by the department.

Meena also denied the need of a third party audit of hostels and residential schools run by the government saying the department is capable of dealing with it. The anomalies found during inspection conducted by state government officials would be redressed. The officials found mainly infrastructural and manpower related issues which would be overcome with modernisation of existing infrastructure in the coming years, said Meena.