NEW DELHI, June 24: Buoyed by the achievements of over 150 children of left-wing extremism affected areas in securing admissions in reputed engineering colleges, the Chhattisgarh Government has constructed a residential hostel here to educate them.
The state-of-the-art residential complex, constructed in about 2,000 sq meter in Dwarka locality here, with a capacity of accommodating at least 100 students will be inaugurated in July 3.
“We want to educate more and more children from LWE affected areas. They will be provided better coaching classes and accommodation free of cost. The aim is to ensure better education and skill development of these children so that they can bring positive changes and development back in the state,” Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh told PTI from Raipur.
He said a pilot project has brought a significant result in Chhattisgarh.
“There were about 150 students from LWE areas of the state who got through various national engineering colleges through ‘Prayas’, a special initiative of the state government,” the CM said.
Chhattisgarh had in 2010 launched a programme ‘Prayas’ to provide education to students from the LWE districts of the state and other tribal or backward areas.
About 300 such students were provided accommodation in tribal hostels, especially constructed for the purpose, in the state capital Raipur and given coaching for regular courses and competitive examinations.
As a result, around 150 of them were selected in All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) and two in Indian Institute of Technology. Besides them, some of the students were selected for admission in some other institutes.
Recently, the Chief Minister has given an i-pad each to all the students.
The residential block in the national capital is constructed at the cost of about Rs 15 crore.
“It is a unique project. These students will be provided education and coaching free of cost. Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha Kariya Munda is likely to inaugurate the tribals hostel,” said N Baijendra Kumar, Principal Secretary to the CM.
According to officials, all students who stay in the hostels will be provided all sorts of career guidance and help.
They said the programme was aimed at involving these underprivileged children into the mainstream of the society.
“There are many children who aspire to become some professionals in their life. But due to their poor economic conditions and lack of awareness they were unable to pursue their dreams. With hostels like this, a child can get best education and realise his dreams,” an official said. (PTI)
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