Bhubaneswar, Dec. 21: The state government will add 128 more hostels under its project titled Seasonal Hostels for Children of Migrating Parents.

At present, there are 135 such hostels with 4,421 students functioning in eight districts of the state.The project that started in 2012-13 aims to prevent children from migrating with their families to other districts or states, so that their education does not get hampered. As part of the project, analternative accommodation isprovided to the children of the migrant families, thusensuring that a child has a shelter to stay and attend school after his or her parents move out to earn a living.

'The new hostels will be set up by the end of this financial year and cater to 5,509 students,' said secretary of the education department Usha Padhee.

Earlier this week, a central team consisting of K. Nagaraja, director of the department of administrative reforms and public grievances, and Sunita Chugh, associate professor of National University for Educational Planning and Administration, visited the state for a spot study and evaluation of the project. The team visited Paikamala in Padmapur block of Bargarh district and Belpada block in Balangir district.

'Seasonal hostel is one of the most innovative programmes launched by the state government. Besides providing accommodation, the department also takes care of the health needs of the children. It also arranges for mobile phones, so that the inmates could be in touch with their parents,' said Padhee.

The hostels also help in combating child labour. The department of school and mass education has been nominated for the prestigious Prime Minister's Award for Excellence for 2013-14 for its seasonal hostel project.