Minutes of the Meeting of the Grants in Aid Committee to Consider Proposals Under the Girls’ Hostel Scheme Held on 16.12.2010
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MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE GRANTS IN AID COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER PROPOSALS UNDER THE GIRLS’ HOSTEL SCHEME HELD ON 16.12.2010 . A meeting of the Grants in Aid Committee (GIAC) for the Girls’ Hostel Scheme was held on 16.12.2010 in the Ministry of HRD under the chairpersonship of Secretary (SE&L) to consider proposals from the State Governments of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Orissa, Uttrakhand and Bihar. A list of participants is appended . 2. MADHYA PRADESH 2.1 The State has 201 EBBs so far, hostels have already been sanctioned in 30 EBBs. The current proposal is to set up girls’ hostel in the remaining 171 EBBs in the State. Out of the 171 hostels proposed, 33 hostels are to be located in the compound of KGBVs and the remaining 138 in the campus of existing Secondary and Higher Secondary schools. The State Government has prepared building design, according to which space of 116 square feet per inmate is available. The estimated cost is Rs. 1.24 crore per hostel. The scheme will be implemented by the M.P. Madhyamik Shiksha Samiti. 2.2 It was noted that there was no Secondary/Higher Secondary School within 3 K.M. of the locations of three hostels proposed in Umarwan, Shivpuri and Prithvipur Blocks. The State Government was therefore advised to relocate them. 2.3 Secretary (SE&L) clarified that as per the existing norm only Rs. 42.50 lakh could be provided for construction of a 100 bedded hostel. In view of the difficulties expressed by various State Governments to operate within the scheme norm, a proposal has been initiated to permit State Schedule of Rates for construction of hostel. However this is yet to be approved by the competent authority. Cost beyond the scheme norm can only be considered if and when the proposal to permit the use of SORs is approved. 2.4 168 hostels ( Annexure-I), excluding the 3 blocks of Umarwan, Shivpuri and Prithvipur, were approved ‘in principle’. Financial sanction will be considered as and when the revised cost norms based on State scheduled of rates become operational. 2.5 The State Government was also advised to submit a proposal for running the hostels in temporary locations after identifying appropriate accommodation. Recurring grant for running the hostels can be provided for this purpose under the scheme. 3. MAHARASHTRA 3.1 Secretary (Education), Maharashtra briefly presented the proposal of the State Government to set up 43 girls’ hostels covering all the EBBs with in the State. 9 hostels have been proposed in the compound of the KGBVs and the remaining 34 hostels adjacent to the proposed Model Schools. It was observed that there is no secondary school within 3 KM of the proposed location of 14 hostels. These hostels have been planned to accommodate the girls studying in the Model Schools. The proposed design provides for dormitories with bunk beds for 4-6 students with per boarder availability of space being about 50 sq.feet. The construction cost varies from Rs. 75 lakh to Rs. 128.33 lakhs. 3.2 The GIAC observed that the proposals were in order and 43 hostels in as many EBBs could be recommended. At the same time viability of the proposal hinges critically on simultaneous construction of model schools, since 34 of the 43 hostels are to be located in the Model School campus. GIAC approved 43 girls’ hostels (Annexure-II ) ”in principle” subject to the response of the State Government to the advice of the PAB in respect of the Model Schools. Besides the projected cost being well over the current scheme norm, financial sanction can be considered as and when the revised norms are approved by the competent authority. In the meanwhile the State Government was advised to redesign the hostels so as to avoid bunker beds. 4. JHARKHAND 4.1 The Principal Secretary (Education), Government of Jharkhand presented the proposal of the State Government to set up 81 girls’ hostels in as many EBBs. This is the first proposal from the State Government to set up girls’ hostel in the State covering 81 of 203 EBBs in the State. All the hostels have been proposed in the compound of KGBVs. It was clarified that all KGBVs in the State have already been upgraded to the Higher Secondary level and the girls will attend the schools in the same campus. 4.2 Two different unit costs have been projected in the State Government proposal, one being Rs. 51.13 lakh and the other at Rs. 65.40 lakh. As per the design furnished by the State Government the accommodation will be bunker-bed type. Principal Secretary, Jharkhand Stated that considering the unit cost of Rs. 42.50 lakh admissible under the scheme, the State Government hardly had any other option. 4.3 JS(SE) stated that since these hostels are meant for girls going to Secondary and Higher Secondary classes, the inmates require certain degree of privacy and comfort for study. Considering the above, State Governments have been advised from the very beginning to avoid bunker type accommodation in these hostels. Secretary (SE&L) clarified that since a proposal has been initiated to allow use of SORs for construction of girls’ hostels, the State Government can plan for the hostels as per their SORs. For the present, the approval for the hostels would be accorded ‘in principle’ only. The financial sanction will be considered after the revised building design is received and appraised keeping in view the prevailing financial norm under the scheme. 4.4 GIAC approved 81 hostels in as many EBBs (Annexure-III ) in principle subject to furnishing of a revised building design. 5. UTTARAKHAND 5.1 Secretary (School Education), Government of Uttarakhand presented the proposal to set up 27 girls’ hostels. Out of the 27 hostels proposed, 19 have been proposed in EBBs, and the remaining 8 in Blocks which are not classified as educationally backward. Secretary (Education), Uttarakhand submitted that there is some confusion about the exact number of EBBs in the State. Although 23 blocks are classified as EBBs in the State, 4 Blocks have been shown as “Forest Villages”. This leaves 19 clear cut EBBs in the State. The State Government has proposed hostels in all blocks which are at present having KGBVs. 5.2 JS(SE) clarified that the State Government would be eligible for 19 girls’ hostel in case girls’ hostels are not required in the four Forest Villages, since the total number of Blocks classified as EBBs are 23 in the State. 5.3 Out of the 19 hostels proposed in EBBs, it was observed that one block (Bahadarabad in Haridwar District) does not have any Secondary School within 3 Kms of the proposed location. Secretary (SE), Uttarakhand submitted that an upper primary school in close proximity of the location of the hostel has been proposed for up- gradation under RMSA, and therefore she requested for ‘in principle’ approval for the hostel. GIAC advised the State Government to resubmit the proposal only after upgradation of the upper primary school is cleared under RMSA. 5.4 As far as the cost estimates are concerned, it was observed that the projected cost was more than Rs. 1.00 crore. Secretary (SE&L) reiterated the position that such costing beyond the scheme norm can be considered if and when the proposal to permit State Governments to use SORs is approved by the competent authority. For the present GIAC recommended 18 girls’ hostel ‘in principle’ in as many EBBs (Annexure-IV ). 6. ORISSA 6.1 Director (Secondary Education), Government of Orissa presented the proposal of the State Government to set up 67 girls hostels in as many EBBs. It was pointed out that out of the 173 EBBs in the State, 68 hostels had earlier approved in two phases. Out of the 67 hostels proposed at present, 18 are to be located in the KGBV campus and the remaining would come up in the campus of existing High Schools. 6.2 It was observed that there is no Secondary/Higher Secondary School within 3 Kms of the proposed location of following 5 blocks: • Polosara • Kalampur • Lanjigarh • T.H. Rampur • Khariar 6.3 The projected cost varies from location to location as can be seen from the block-level information. However, the consolidated State proposal indicates a uniform cost of Rs. 42.5 lakh per hostel with per boarder availability of space being 35.52 sq. feet, which is less than the scheme specification of 40 sq. feet per inmate. 6.4 For 68 hostels approved earlier, the State Government had been advised to furnish a revised building design. The revised design was received sometime back with a projected unit cost about Rs. 93 lakh. The State Government was requested to indicate whether it would be willing for release of funds as per the scheme specification of Rs. 42.5 lakh. In response, the State Government informed that unit cost has been brought down to Rs. 42.5 lakh. Based on this clarification, the file has been moved for release of funds in respect of 68 hostels. However, it now appears that the State Government has also changed the building design, in effect reducing the availability of space per boarder. 6.5 GIAC approved 62 hostels ( Annexure-V) ‘in principle’ excluding the 5 hostels where there is no secondary school within 3 K.M. of proposed location. However, the State Government will have to submit a revised building design to ensure availability of adequate space per boarder. Secretary (SE&L) clarified that if the financial requirement exceeded the scheme norm, financial sanction can be considered only after the proposal to allow use of SORs is approved by the competent authority.