Over Rs 1833 lakh released for G&B Hostels, Rs 294 lakh for Pahari Hostels

STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: Minister for FCS&CA, Satish Sharma, on Monday said that funds worth Rs 1833.40 lakh have been released for Gujjar and Bakarwal Hostels across Jammu and Kashmir during the current financial year under DIET head.

The Minister was replying to a question, on behalf of the Minister for Tribal Affairs, raised by Iftikhar Ahmad in the Legislative Assembly.
Regarding the Gujjar and Bakarwal Hostels, the Minister informed the House that, during the current financial year 2024-25, funds to the tune of Rs. 1833.40 lakh including Rs. 1801.90 lakh under Major Head and Rs. 31.50 lakh under sub-head were released in favour of the 28 G&B Hostels, having an intake capacity of 3000 students.
The Minister, while speaking about the Pahari Hostel, said that Rs. 294.00 lakh have been released under the DIET head for the financial year 2024-25 and the grant has been disbursed for intake capacity of 700 inmates in respect of 09 Boys/Girls Pahari Hostels. The Pahari Board has desired to enhance the diet/food charges due to expensive essential commodities and other daily needed items in the market, he added.
He said that Rs 541.18 lakh were released under Article 275 (1) of the constitution of India for welfare of Scheduled Tribes in Rajouri Constituency during 2024-25. Out of which, Rs 328.63 have been spent, so far, on various projects including construction of Eklavya Model Residential School in Gurdhanbala, construction of roads, pathways, harvesting tank among other projects.
The Minister added that there are 76 ongoing projects worth Rs 270.75 lakh under UT CAPEX in the Rajouri Constituency being executed under the Tribal Plan.