Parliament Question: Hostels for SC/ST Students in Punjab

S;Hffi3i[;tTTi'p MINI srRy oF ,*ERMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2661 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.08.2025 HOSTELS FOR SC/ST STIIDENTS IN PIINJAB 266I. SHRI MALVINDER SINGH KANG:

Wiil the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the number of hostels constructed for the students belonging to Scheduled castes, Schedule Tribes and other Backward classes in the state of Punjab during the last two years;

(b) the number of proposals for construction of hostels which are pending in the country, State- wise;

(c) the details of firnds allocated, released and utilised for the said hostels during the last two years and the current financial year; and

(d) the details of the new additional coaching arrangement made for the students staying in the hostel? AI\SWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE) of

(a): During the last two years, no proposals have been received from the State Government punjab for censtruction of hostels for Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC).

(b): For Scheduled caste (SC) students, two proposals for construction of Hostels (one boys' and one girls,) pertaining to Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (Central University), Lucknow, Uttar pradesh have been recently received in the Department. Other than these, no other proposals received from StateAjnion Territory as per Scheme guidelines are pending' For Other Backward Class (OBC) students, there are no proposals pending, as received from the States as per the scheme guidelines.

(c): No funds have been released to the State of Punjab for construction of hostels for Scheduled castes and Soheduled rribes during the last two financial years as well as the current financial year. However, for hostels meant for other Backward classes, an amount of tll2'5 lakh has been released to the State Government of Punjab during the current financial yeat2025-26, while no funds were released in the preceding two years

(d): Under the Hostel component of Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana

(pMAJAy) scheme, funds are released for construction & maintenance of hostels' There is no provision for additional coaching or academic support arrangements for students residing in hostel constnrcted under the Hostel component of PM-AJAY scheme.

*****