New Delhi: The Centre has launched a special scheme for hardest-hit naxal-affected districts of eight states to construct hostels to promote education among tribals and contain dropout rates.

The scheme initiated by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs offers 100 per cent financial assistance to the naxal-affected States/Union Territories from the Centre for the purpose of benefiting students belonging to Scheduled Tribes (STs) and also primitive tribal groups, sources in the ministry said.

The scheme has so far been made available to a total of 33 districts listed as "naxal-affected" by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in the states of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Bihar, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, he said.

"The ministry has launched the scheme to supplement the efforts of state governments for the promotion of education and contain dropout rates among tribals living in the highly naxal-affected districts in these eight states of the country," he said.

"While illiteracy is a general problem for the country cutting across caste, religion, region and such other barriers, its total effect on the life and status of the ST, especially those living in naxal-affected areas stand out prominently as an area of national focus," a senior official of the ministry said.

Under the scheme, the hostels can be constructed for middle, secondary, college and university level of education and also Vocational Training Centres.
Source : PTI