The Bihar government has approved the construction of 10 new hostels for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students under the Prime Minister’s Anusuchit Jati Abhyudaya Yojana (PM-AJAY) scheme, marking a significant step toward improving educational infrastructure for marginalised communities.
The decision was announced during a state-level planning evaluation and convergence committee meeting held in Patna on September 4. The meeting was chaired by the Secretary of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Welfare Department.
Here’s how Bihar hostels are allocated:
Muzaffarpur will receive the maximum benefit with four new hostels, while Patna will get two. The remaining districts—Darbhanga, Begusarai, Buxar, and Khagaria—will each receive one hostel facility.
• Muzaffarpur: 4 hostels
• Patna: 2 hostels
• Darbhanga: 1 hostel
• Begusaray: 1 hostel
• Buxar: 1 hostel
• Khagaria: 1 hostel
Bihar Govt. addresses educational challenges
According to the state government, many talented SC-ST students drop out of education due to a lack of proper accommodation facilities. This initiative aims to provide not only shelter and security to thousands of students but also create a conducive learning environment.
The government believes this decision will significantly impact the future of Dalit, Adivasi, and backwards community children by removing accommodation barriers that often force students to abandon their studies.
Who participated in the high-level meeting?
The meeting included participation from the department’s director, additional secretary, deputy director (headquarters), senior officials from various departments, and nodal officers. District welfare officers from concerned districts joined via video conferencing.
This approval represents a new chapter in Bihar’s educational sector, extending benefits beyond the state capital to rural districts. The PM-AJAY scheme focuses on empowering SC-ST communities through improved educational access and infrastructure development.
The initiative is expected to strengthen the educational foundation for marginalised students across Bihar, ensuring that financial and logistical constraints do not hinder their academic pursuits and career aspirations.
