Construction of Hostels for OBC Boys and Girls
Department of Social Justice & Empowerment
Last updated:
Key dates and updates
Important milestones for this scheme. Use official links to verify before you apply.
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Scheme launch |
Overview
The Scheme aims at providing hostel facilities to students belonging to socially and educationally backward classes, especially from rural areas, to enable them to pursue secondary and higher education.
Details
The scheme “Construction of Hostels for OBC Boys and Girls” is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched by the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment in 1998-99 to address the problem of educational backwardness of OBCs. The Scheme was initiated with a view to facilitate continuation of education by students belonging to OBCs, especially those hailing from rural and remote areas and from poor families. Objective: The scheme aims at providing hostel facilities to students belonging to socially and educationally backward classes, especially from rural areas, to enable them to pursue secondary and higher education. Priority will be given for the proposals for construction of hostels for under-graduate students vis-a-vis below under-graduate level.
Benefits
• 1. The cost per hostel seat in different areas under the scheme are as follows:-
• North Eastern Region: ₹3.50 lakh per seat
• Himalayan Regions: ₹3.25 lakh per seat
• Rest of country: ₹3.00 lakh per seat
• (OR) as per the schedule of the rates for the concerned State Government, whichever is lower.
• 2. There will also be a one-time non-recurring grant of ₹2,500/- per seat for providing furniture/equipment to the hostels constructed under the Scheme.
• 3. The funding pattern as per the guidelines are:
Eligibility Criteria
1. ***Agencies eligible for financial assistance under the Scheme will be as follows:***
2. State Governments and UT Administrations.
3. Institutions or organizations set up by the Central Government as autonomous bodies under a statute (e.g. Central Universities, IIT, NIT, etc.).
4. ***Location and Capacity of Hostels to be constructed under the Scheme:***
5. While sanctioning hostels, priority will be given to:
6. (i) Regions/districts not covered so far, and
7. (ii) Districts/towns having a large number of educational institutions.
8. As far as possible, hostels will be constructed in close vicinity of educational institutions.
9. ***Eligibility criteria for students to be admitted to hostels under the Scheme:***
10. Students fulfilling the following eligibility criteria may be allotted seats in Hostels constructed under the Scheme:
11. Students whose castes are included in the Central/State/UT list of Other Backward Classes and who do not belong to the "creamy layer".
12. Hostels would be essentially for post matric students. However, if there are vacant seats, pre-matric students, especially of the secondary level, would also be eligible to be accommodated.
13. Other things, being equal preference will be given to OBC students hailing from low-income families.
14. At least 5% of the total seats should be reserved for students with disabilities.
Required Documents
• Documentary evidence of land availability, plot number and plot area
• Site Plan
• Preliminary cost estimate of each of the proposed Hostel building, as per State PWD/CPWD schedule of rates applicable in the State/UT signed by an officer not below the rank of an Executive Engineer
• Copy of the latest Annual Report
• A statement of the full receipts and expenditure and a copy of the balance sheet for the last two years certified by a Chartered Accountant
• Any other documents as required
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the primary objective of the scheme?
A: The scheme aims to provide hostel facilities to students belonging to socially and educationally backward classes, especially from rural areas, to enable them to pursue secondary and higher education.
Q: Who are the implementing agencies eligible for assistance under this scheme?
A: Eligible agencies include State Governments, Union Territory Administrations, and institutions or organizations set up by the Central Government as autonomous bodies under a statute (e.g., Central Universities, IITs, NITs).
Q: What are the cost norms per hostel seat in different regions?
A: The cost per hostel seat is as follows:
1. North Eastern Region: ₹3.50 lakh per seat
2. Himalayan Regions: ₹3.25 lakh per seat
3. Rest of the country: ₹3.00 lakh per seat
4. Alternatively, as per the schedule of rates for the concerned State Government, whichever is lower.
Q: How is the cost of construction shared between the Centre and the State for boys' hostels?
A: The cost is shared in a 60:40 ratio between the Centre and the State for boys' hostels.
Q: What is the funding pattern for girls' hostels?
A: There is 90% central assistance for girls' hostels, with the State Governments bearing 10% of the cost.
Q: How is funding structured for Union Territories and North Eastern States?
A: For Union Territories, Central Assistance is 100%. For North Eastern States and the three Himalayan States (Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand), Central Assistance is 90%.
Q: What is the timeline for completing the construction of the hostels?
A: The construction work must be completed within 18 months from the award of the work order or two years from the release of the first installment of Central assistance, whichever is earlier. No extensions beyond two years are permitted.
Q: Is acquiring new land necessary for constructing hostels under this scheme?
A: No, acquiring new land is not necessary. Hostel construction can be undertaken within ongoing State Government projects of institutions such as medical colleges, engineering colleges, polytechnics, etc.
Q: How is the grant released for the construction of hostels?
A: The grant is released in three installments in a 50:45:5 ratio, with the final 5% released after completion of the work and occupation of the rooms by OBC students.
Q: Is there any provision for furniture or equipment for the hostels?
A: Yes, there is a one-time non-recurring grant of ₹2,500 per seat for providing furniture/equipment to the hostels constructed under the scheme.
Q: Is there a provision for evaluation and quality inspection of the constructed hostels?
A: Yes, a total of 0.25% of the budget allocation or up to ₹10 lakh is reserved for undertaking evaluation, third-party inspection about quality, and miscellaneous expenses related to the implementation of the scheme.
Q: Can hostels be constructed in villages selected under the "Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY)"?
A: Yes, construction of hostels for OBC boys and girls in an Adarsh Village selected under SAGY can be undertaken, provided land is available and the selected village is located in proximity to educational institutions.
Q: Are there specific criteria for selecting students for hostel accommodation?
A: Yes, major criteria include the merit of the applicant, permanent residency of the state, annual family income, and caste of the student.
Eligibility Criteria
***Agencies eligible for financial assistance under the Scheme will be as follows:***
State Governments and UT Administrations.
Institutions or organizations set up by the Central Government as autonomous bodies under a statute (e.g. Central Universities, IIT, NIT, etc.).
***Location and Capacity of Hostels to be constructed under the Scheme:***
While sanctioning hostels, priority will be given to:
(i) Regions/districts not covered so far, and
(ii) Districts/towns having a large number of educational institutions.
As far as possible, hostels will be constructed in close vicinity of educational institutions.
***Eligibility criteria for students to be admitted to hostels under the Scheme:***
Students fulfilling the following eligibility criteria may be allotted seats in Hostels constructed under the Scheme:
Students whose castes are included in the Central/State/UT list of Other Backward Classes and who do not belong to the "creamy layer".
Hostels would be essentially for post matric students. However, if there are vacant seats, pre-matric students, especially of the secondary level, would also be eligible to be accommodated.
Other things, being equal preference will be given to OBC students hailing from low-income families.
At least 5% of the total seats should be reserved for students with disabilities.
Benefits
1. The cost per hostel seat in different areas under the scheme are as follows:-
North Eastern Region: ₹3.50 lakh per seat
Himalayan Regions: ₹3.25 lakh per seat
Rest of country: ₹3.00 lakh per seat
(OR) as per the schedule of the rates for the concerned State Government, whichever is lower.
2. There will also be a one-time non-recurring grant of ₹2,500/- per seat for providing furniture/equipment to the hostels constructed under the Scheme.
3. The funding pattern as per the guidelines are:
Required Documents
| # | Document |
|---|---|
| 1 | Documentary evidence of land availability, plot number and plot area |
| 2 | Site Plan |
| 3 | Preliminary cost estimate of each of the proposed Hostel building, as per State PWD/CPWD schedule of rates applicable in the State/UT signed by an officer not below the rank of an Executive Engineer |
| 4 | Copy of the latest Annual Report |
| 5 | A statement of the full receipts and expenditure and a copy of the balance sheet for the last two years certified by a Chartered Accountant |
| 6 | Any other documents as required |
Frequently Asked Questions
The scheme aims to provide hostel facilities to students belonging to socially and educationally backward classes, especially from rural areas, to enable them to pursue secondary and higher education.