Bengaluru: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday August 21 said that State Government will allocate Rs 250 Crore to improve the condition of hostels for students from backward classes and provide more facilities for them.
He was speaking after an event held in Vidhana Soudha to celebrate the 107th birthday of former Chief Minister D. Devaraja Urs and award winners of the Devaraja Urs Awards.
“Grants have been released to all hostel to increase its capacity by 25 per cent. Additional grants have been given to 2,439 hostels in addition to an increase of Rs. 150 in student scholarships. Over 195 hostels are at different stages of completion,” said Bommai.
He added that 50 new hostels are being constructed in the name Saint Kanakadasa.
He further went on to say that, “Five hostels with a capacity for 1,000 students each are being constructed by the government. These hostels are being built in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Dharawad, Kalaburagi, and Mangaluru. Increasing the capacity to 5,000 is my goal.”
Bommai said that two more schools will be formed due to high demand in addition to the four schools named after social reformer Narayana Guru that have already been built and each cost Rs. 30 Crore.
The release of Rs. 4 Crore has been approved in to provide financial aid to students who are conducting research in the name of Urs. He added that an additional grant of Rs. 10 Crore had been made available to fund scholarships for students going to study abroad.
The government is also restarting a tailoring scheme for women named after Urs. “The scheme was stopped. This year, we are starting it again,” said Bommai.
He hailed Urs as a great leader, an able administrator and a champion of backward classes.
Bommai asserts that Urs took Karnataka to greater heights in politics. “Unfortunately, the people for whom he gave everything weren’t there for him in his final moments. We need to reflect on this tragedy,” he said.
