Tripura Chief Minister Prof. Dr Manik Saha said that the present state government is dedicated to uplifting Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) and providing quality education to Janjati students.

Dr Saha said this after virtually laying the foundation stone for the PM-JANMAN Hostel Building on Monday , organized by Samagra Shiksha Tripura at Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan in Agartala.

He mentioned that the education department, under the Ministry of Education, has initiated the construction of hostels to ensure that students belonging to the Reang Janjati community can access quality education. This mission will cover PVTGs across six districts of Tripura: Dhalai, Gomati, Khowai, North Tripura, South Tripura, and Unakoti.

In the first phase, PM JANMAN has approved seven hostels for the 2023-24 financial year and another seven for 2024-25, totaling 14 hostels. Out of these, 12 hostels will have 100 beds each at a cost of Rs 275 lakh per hostel, and 2 will have 50 beds each at a cost of Rs 230 lakh per hostel. This will provide accommodation for up to 1,300 students from the Reang community.

Under this scheme, an initiative has been taken to build 14 hostels across 6 districts in Tripura with an expenditure of Rs. 37.6 crore.

Among them, today Chief Minister virtually laid the foundation stones for 10 hostels (6 boys, 4 girls) in 6 blocks across 4 districts, worth Rs. 26.6 crores, from Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhavan, Agartala.

It will help educational opportunities for 900 students.

"The total cost for the 14 hostels will be Rs 37.60 Crore, benefiting 1,300 students," he added.

Dr Saha emphasized that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is particularly concerned about PVTGs, and hostels are being built in four districts across six blocks to ensure students have access to both quality education and proper food and lodging.

Dr Saha highlighted that previous governments had not focused on PVTGs, but under PM Modi’s leadership, initiatives like PM JANMAN have brought this community into focus.

He also noted that PM Modi has prioritized the Northeast and introduced numerous schemes for its development.

“Our government is working to provide quality education to Janjati students through upgraded hostels, pre- and post-matric scholarships, and various facilities. In Tripura, the Reangs are recognized as a PVTG group, with 56,851 families and a population of around 2.24 lakh who will benefit from these initiatives. Since PM Modi came to power, we have made continuous efforts to support indigenous communities, and we honor the legacy of Late Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur. There are also 21 Eklavya Schools in the state, with work underway on five, expected to be completed by next year. We are working wholeheartedly for the upliftment of Janjati communities,” he concluded.

Janjati Welfare Minister Bikas Debbarma, Industry and Commerce minister Santana Chakma, SCERT Director L Darlong, Director of Secondary and Elementary Education NC Sharma were present.