The Jharkhand government has announced the installation of libraries in 523 hostels throughout the state, marking a significant step towards promoting educational advancement. This programme is part of the Chief Minister’s ST Empowerment Scheme and aims to help students from Scheduled Tribes (ST) achieve their competitive exam goals.
Extensive Learning Environments: The hostel libraries will be positioned with a purpose and equipped with a wide variety of materials, such as books, newspapers, magazines, and internet-connected computers.
Expert Guidance: The government intends to use a group of seasoned mentors and subject matter experts to coach and guide students in their academic pursuits.
Holistic ST Empowerment Scheme: The Chief Minister’s ST Empowerment Scheme takes a multifaceted approach, going beyond the library initiative. It consists of jobs, skill development courses, housing, stipends, scholarships, and employment opportunities reserved for ST students.
Even though the 2011 census found that ST students made up 26.3% of the state’s population, they are disproportionately underrepresented in postsecondary education and competitive examinations. By taking this proactive measure, the government hopes to close this disparity and give ST students access to a more equal educational environment.
The vision of the government:
The government hopes that by making libraries easily accessible and offering professional tutoring in hostels, ST students will be better prepared to face the difficulties of competitive examinations. This programme is in line with the overarching objective of improving the economic and educational standing of Jharkhand’s ST community.
The Jharkhand government’s determination to promote educational inclusivity and empower the ST community is demonstrated by the decision to build libraries in hostels. The goal is to increase ST students’ success and representation in the field of competitive examinations by transforming these libraries into centres of knowledge and guidance.
