Executive Summary:
This document provides details regarding Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) hostels in India. It outlines the number of hostels sanctioned and completed under the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PMAJAY) since 2007-08, and the number of hostels sanctioned under the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) scheme from 2024-25 onwards. The information includes state-wise details, beneficiaries, and funding provisions for construction and repair.
Key Points / Main Content:
SC Hostels (PMAJAY):
* Central assistance is provided for the construction of new SC hostel buildings for boys and girls under PMAJAY.
* Since 2007-08, 909 hostels (544 for girls and 365 for boys) have been sanctioned, covering 74,629 beneficiaries; 771 hostels are reported as completed.
* Implementing agencies (State Governments/UT Administrations, Central Universities/Institutes) are responsible for maintaining details regarding the current status, capacity, and occupancy of the hostels.
* There is no provision for upgrading or expanding existing hostels under PMAJAY; only new construction proposals are considered.
* Central assistance for repairs of operational hostels is provided once every five years, with a maximum limit based on student capacity (Rs. 5.00 lakhs for 50 students, Rs. 10.00 lakhs for 100 students, Rs. 15.00 lakhs for 150 students, and so on).
ST Hostels:
* Until 2016-17, funds were provided to State Governments for construction of ST hostels.
* From 2018-19, hostel construction intervention was subsumed under the schemes of 'Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Scheme (SCA to TSS)' and 'Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution.'
* From 2024-25 onwards, the "Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA)" scheme provides funds for hostel construction to State Governments based on received proposals.
* The implementation, administration, and maintenance of ST hostels are managed by the State/UT Governments.
Impact Analysis:
State Governments/UT Administrations:
* Impact: Responsible for implementing and maintaining SC/ST hostels, submitting proposals for funding under PMAJAY and DAJGUA, and ensuring accurate reporting of hostel status.
* Action Required: Submit proposals for new SC/ST hostel constructions based on need assessments, administer and maintain existing hostels, and ensure accurate reporting of hostel status, capacity, and occupancy.
Central Universities/Institutes:
* Impact: Eligible to receive central assistance under PMAJAY for constructing SC hostels.
* Action Required: Submit proposals for new SC hostel constructions based on need assessments, administer and maintain existing hostels (if applicable), and ensure accurate reporting of hostel status, capacity, and occupancy.
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment/Ministry of Tribal Affairs:
* Impact: Responsible for providing central assistance for the construction and repair of SC/ST hostels through PMAJAY and DAJGUA, respectively.
* Action Required: Review and approve proposals for hostel construction and repair, allocate funds, and monitor the implementation of the schemes.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for welfare, social justice and empowerment of disadvantaged and marginalized sections of the society.
Scheduled Caste: Refers to a group of historically disadvantaged communities recognized by the Government of India.
Scheduled Tribe: Refers to a group of indigenous communities recognized by the Government of India.
Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana PMAJAY: A central government scheme providing assistance for the construction of new hostel buildings for Scheduled Caste students.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for the welfare and development of Scheduled Tribes.
Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan DAJGUA: A scheme under which Ministry of Tribal Affairs provides funds for construction of hostels to the State Governments.
Assam: A state in Northeast India where new hostels have been sanctioned under DAJGUA.
Chhattisgarh: A state in Central India where new hostels have been sanctioned under DAJGUA.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTTON No.ls3s
TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.07.2025
SC/ST HOSTELS
1535. SHRI SAPTAGIRI SANKAR ULAKA:
Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the total number of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) hostels currently
operational in the country, State-wise;
(b) the status of infrastructure, capacity and occupancy in these hostels;
(c) whether they are fully operational and the extent of vacancies;
(d) if so, the total number of students currently residing in SC and ST hostels, disaggregated by
gender and category;
(e) whether the Ministry is undertaking any upgrades or expansions of existing hostels or plans
to establish new ones in under served areas; and
(0 if so, the details of proposed projects, location plan and expected timelines for their
completion?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE)
(a) to (d): Under the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY), Hostel
component central assistance is provided for the construction of new hostel buildings for
Scheduled Caste (SC) students, with separate hostels for boys and girls. Since 2007-08,909
hostels (544 girls and 365 boys) have been sanctioned under this component covering 74,629
beneficiaries. Out of these, 771 hostels have been reported as completed. State-wise details are
provided in the Annexure-I. The hostel component of Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday
Yojana (PM-AJAY) is implemented by State Governments/UT Administrations, Central
Universities/Institutes and the central assistance is provided to implementing agencies based on
proposals received. The implementing agencies are responsible for maintaining the details
regarding current status, capacity, and occupancy ofthe hostels.In the case of Ministry of Tribal Affairs, under the Scheme of "Hostels for ST Girls and Boys"
funds were being provided to State Governments for construction of Hostels for ST Girls and
Boys till 2016-17. As a part of rationalization of schemes, the intervention for construction of
hostels was subsumed under the schemes of 'Special Central Assistance to tribal Sub-Scheme
(SCA to TSS)' and 'Grants under Article 275(l) of the Constitution' from 2018-19 onwards. From
2024-25 onwards Government has launched a scheme named "Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram
Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) under which Ministry of Tribal Affairs provides funds for
construction of hostels to the State Governments based on the proposals received from them.
Total number of hostels sanctioned state wise under DAJGUA is mentioned at Annexure-Il. The
implementation, administration and maintenance of Hostels for STs is done by the StatefuTs
Govemments.
(d) & (e): Under the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY), there is no
provision for upgradation or expansion of existing hostels. Only fresh proposals for construction
of new hostels are considered by the Department, based on need assessment surveys and
recommendations received from State/Union Tenitory. However, central assistance for repair of
operational hostels is provided to implementing agencies, once in every five years after
operationalization of the hostel. It is limited to a maximum of Rs. 5.00 lakhs for one hostel of 50
students, Rs. 10.00lakhs for 100 students, Rs. 15.00lakhs for 150 students and so on.Annexure
Annexure in Unstarred 1535 on Status of
India
Details of SC hostels sanctioned under Hostel Comnonent of PM-AJAY (erstwhile BJRCY)
since FY 2007-08
sl. State/UT Total No. of Hostels Funds No. of No. of hostels
No. Sanctioned sanctioned beneficiaries completed
(Rs. in lakh)
Girls Boys
*
I Andhra Pradesh 2A 13 9,654 3265 5
2 Assam 20 24 6,323.45 2924 36
*
J Bihar 7 t2 2,268.40 I 890 t6
4 Chhattisgarh 28 20 1,996.83 2420 46
5 GuJarat 8 9 2,332.13 3270 t7
6 Haryana 13 3 2.658.65 1740 l4
Himachal Pradesh 5 4 2,385.90 tt25
7 7
f
Iammu and J 2 6,02.66 400
8 4
Kashmir
9 Iharkhand 8 l3 9,63.05 1450 t6
10 Karnataka l8 27 4,939.90 3136 35
1l Kerala 2 7 1,349.83 730 9
t2 Madhya Pradesh 49 38 13964.56 66s0 77
l3 Maharashtra* 27 3Z 7,648.71 5273 55
t4 Manipur 20 4 5,126.44 2t55 t6
15 Mizoram J 0 1,575.00 450 0
t6 Nagaland 9 0 4,365.00 I 3s0 0
t7 Odisha * 161 t6 6,330.81 r4834 169
l8 Puducherry J I 1,000.00 500 I
l9 Punjab ll 4 2,889.99 1226 l5
l0l
20 Rajasthan 36 68 8,851.94 4475
2l sikk m 5 I 2,100.00 600 4
22 Iamil Nadu 20 30 4,269.92 4641 45
23 Ielangana 8 J 2,305.00 I 500 4
24 fripura 7 I 1,479.56 520 5
25 Uttar Pradesh t6 t6 5,097.81 2734 24
26 Uttarakhandx 3 3 1,044.42 3s0 2
27 West Bengal 34 t4 8,626.34 502t 48
Iotal 544 36s 1,12,150.3 74,629 771
*3 hostels in Andhra Pradesh, 3 hostels in Bihar, 2 hostels in Himachal Pradesh, 2 hostels in
Odisha, I hostel in Uttarakhand & 2 hostels in Maharashtra have been cancelled and their
amount has been refunded by the respective State Govemments through DD.Annexure-II
Details of State wise new constructions of hostels sanctioned under DAJGUA as on 30th
June 2025.
S.No. State No. of Hostels
I Assam 50
2. Chhattisearh 186
Ja. Himachal Pradesh 4
4. Madhya Pradesh 44
5. Odisha 92
6. Tamil Nadu 2
7. Andhra Pradesh 31
8. Guiarat 43.
9. Jharkhand 43
10. Kerala 2
il
Maharashtra 63
12. Raiasthan 32
13. Arunachal Pradesh 0l
14. Tripura 20
15. Sikkim 07
Total 620