Bhopal, Dec 31: State government has initiated effective steps for qualitative improvement in the lives of tribals. Stipends revised upwards: Per month payment at the rate of Rs 500 and Rs 525 in place of Rs 350 and Rs 360 was started immediately to boys/girls staying hostels/Ashrams.

Stipend amount doubled: Now students of class 9 and 10 are getting Rs 60 and Rs 80 per month as stipends. Sanitary Kits provided: Students staying in hostels and Ashrams were provided on Sanitary Kit each per year. The kit contains oil, soap, comb, nail cutter, toothpaste, toothbrush, needle, threat, buttons etc.

Incentive money increased: The tribal students, who get admission in class XI after passing class X would now get Rs 3000 instead of Rs 2000 each in addition to their post-matric stipends.

Special facilities to students belonging to denotified backward classes: Students of class I to XII belonging to denotified backward classes including Sahariya, Baiga and Bharia would be provided free of cost uniform, shoes, socks, sweater and school bags. This would cost Rs 570 per student to the state exchequer.

Awards to talented tribal students: Shankar Shah Award for three tribal boy students and Rani Durgawati Award to three girl students would be given for securing highest marks in X and XII Board exams. For class X the first prize would be to the tune of Rs 20,000, second Rs 15,000 and third Rs 10,000 and for class XII first prize would be to the tune of Rs 30,000, second Rs 20,000 and third Rs 10,000.

Prizes for talented students: One hundred tribal students securing highest marks in each X and XII board exams would be given Rs 1000 prize each.

Coaching in prestigious coaching institutes: Those tribal students who clear preliminary test of UPSC, would be imparted coaching in prestigious coaching institutes and the entire cost would be borne by the department.

Hostel Day festivity: Every year Hostel Day would be celebrated simultaneously with Madhya Pradesh Establishment Day. Parents of students staying in hostels/Ashrams would be invited to attend the daylong festivities on the occasion of Hostel Day. Mass meal would also be served. Hostel Day was celebrated right from this year.

Community Halls' construction: At all the 89 tribal development blocks headquarters community halls would be constructed at a cost of Rs 24.50 each where social functions and marriages of tribal communities would be held.

Stipends increased: Tribal students acquiring medical and engineering education would not get Rs 1500 per month stipends in place of Rs 740.

English and computer coaching: Separate English and computer coaching arrangements made for students residing in post-matric hostels.

Television: In all the tribal hostels/Ashrams TV sets with DTH facility were provided.

Job-oriented training to tribal students: Every year 200 tribal students would be imparted job-oriented training at Indo-German Tool Room at Indore.

Adivasi Rainbasera: A night halt (rainsasera) would be constructed at the state capital Bhopal.

Rapid development of national highways

By Our Staff Reporter

Bhopal, Dec 31: Development of roads is going on at a very rapid pace in Madhya Pradesh. Ninety-five to 100 percent of patchwork of potholes has been completed. These potholes had developed in 17 national highways during the rainy season. The Chief Engineer reviewed the progress of the patch repair work on a daily basis and ensured to remove potholes on 1568.40 km long roads within a short span of two months. Most of these road have been so much improved that vehicle can run on these roads at the speed of 80 to 100 km smoothly without any jerks. However, patch repair work is still continuing to fill up new potholes and level the roads.

There are 3330.97 km long national highways in Madhya Pradesh. Out of these 1987.33 km national highways are maintained departmentally while 1343.64 km highways are got maintained through performance guarantee system. Due to rains and other causes 1585.50 national highways had been partly damaged. But due to alacrity of the state government officials, patchwork of entire 1585.50 km long national highways has been completed within two months after the rainy season. Meanwhile, strict action was taken against a contractor for refusing to do the patch repair work under performance guarantee system in Mandla district.

Funds for development of national highways are made available by the Union government. State government's efforts to get maximum funds for development of national highways yielded positive results and this year Rs 52.16 crore funds were allocated for developing 137.08 km new roads. Process has been started for inviting tenders for all these works. Besides, Rs 23.79 crore has been sanctioned for renovation of 253.56 km long national highways. Tenders for most of these works have been invited and the construction agencies have been identified.

Under the instructions of the Chief Minister and Public Works Department Minister the state government has chalked out an ambitious project under which Rs 63.40 crore sanction has been given to renovate 545 km long roads. A deadline has been set to complete these works before March 2008. After completion of these works, national highways in the state would get further facelift.