Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 21: Chief Minister, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan today said that the government will provide more hostel facilities for students from the Scheduled Tribes in the state. He said this during the inauguration of three pre-metric hostels and the launch of construction of one post-metric hostel for ST students.

Three new pre-metric hostels have been set up at Sholayur, Irumbpaalam and Anavai. The post-metric hostel for girls is being built in Agali. The hostel at Sholayur can accommodate 60 boys, the Irumbpalam 100 girls and Anavi 100 children. A three-storey building with state-of-the-art facilities has been constructed at Sholayur and Irumbpaalam. Anavi has a new two-story building. A state-of-the-art three-storey building is being constructed at Agali at a cost of Rs 4.74 crores. These will also have facilities to raise the academic standards of the students.

In his address, the Chief Minister said, “The government was considering starting new post-matric hostels for girls in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode. After this government came to power, new hostels were started in Aluva, Mannanthala and Kozhinjampara.”

The government has also provided employment for 19,000 educated people in these categories. 1,140 persons were imparted skill development training in the construction sector. The CM said that the construction work in government departments would be handed over to them. 3,170 people were trained in other occupations. The government has also been able to provide employment to 2,500 people under various schemes. 100 persons belonging to Scheduled Tribes were given employment through special recruitment. Another 125 would be appointed soon.

Minister for Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Shri A K Balan presided over the inaugural function.