Siliguri, Dec. 25: The state government is in the process of forging a tie-up with a Hyderabad-based professional coaching institute to train Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe youths so that they can compete in civil service exams conducted by the UPSC.

Selections for the eight-month-long training would be made by the organisation concerned, minister for backward classes welfare Upen Biswas said here this afternoon.

After a meeting with officials of his department at the circuit house, Biswas said: “We have decided to train SC and ST youths across the state so that they can appear in the IAS and other exams conducted by the UPSC. Every year, a batch of 50 youths — 35 SCs and 15 STs — will be trained by the state government. We have spoken to a Hyderabad-based enterprise and will finalise the modalities soon after which selection of youths for the first batch will be made.”

The venue of the training, whether it will be in Calcutta, Hyderabad or any other location, would be decided later.

Biswas said the state has decided to take up a comprehensive development plan for socio-economic improvement of Totos — one of the primitive tribes of India, who reside in the Birpara-Madarihat block of Jalpaiguri district. “We are also aware of the demand of the Dhimals (another primitive tribe in Naxalbari block) to be brought under the ST category. The government will engage experts to carry out a scientific study of their origin and other details on the basis of which we will act on their demand.”