Introduction
This is a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched in 2008-09 and is being implemented from 2009-10 to set up a 100-bedded Girls’ Hostel in each of 3479 Educationally Backward Blocks (EBBs) in the country. The Scheme has replaced the earlier NGO driven Scheme for construction and running of Girls’ Hostels for Students of Secondary and Higher Secondary Schools, under which assistance was provided to voluntary organisations for running Girls’ Hostels.

Objective
The main objective of the Scheme is to retain the girl child in secondary school so that girl students are not denied the opportunity to continue their study due to distance to school, parents’ financial affordability and other connected societal factors. Another objective of the Scheme is to make Secondary and Senior Secondary education accessible to a larger number of girl students.

Target Group
The girl students in the age group of 14-18 yrs. studying in classes IX and XII belonging to SC, ST, OBC, Minority communities and BPL families will form the target group of the Scheme. Students passing out of KGBV will be given preference in admission in hostels. At least 50% of girls admitted will be from SC, ST, OBC and Minority communities.

Financial Norms

Revision of Cost Norms
Initially the admissible unit cost for construction of a 100 bedded hostel, including boundary wall, boring hand-pump, electricity, furniture and equipments etc. was fixed at Rs.42.5 lakh. During the appraisal process, most of the State Governments had expressed their reservation regarding the inadequate cost norms and requested for increasing the cost norms, preferably based on State Schedule of Rates (SOR). The matter was carefully considered in the Ministry and it was proposed to revise the construction cost under the Girls’ Hostel Scheme to permit construction of Hostel as per State Schedule of Rates. An EFC proposal to revise some norms of Girls’ Hostel Scheme including the cost norms for construction of hostels was sent to Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure, through IFD in March, 2011 to convene EFC meeting. Ministry of Finance vide their O.M. dated 30 5-2011 has conveyed its concurrence to the State Schedule of Rates to be used for construction of hostels, including the hostels already sanctioned in 2009-10 and 2010-11 as per the specific detailed norms for a 100 bedded hostel.

Sharing Pattern
Central government will bear 90% of the recurring and non-recurring project cost. 10% will be borne by the State Govts.

Project Approval Board
A Project Approval Board headed by the Secretary, School Education & Literacy, MHRD will examine the proposals received from various States/UT Governments. The Committee will include, Joint Secretary (Secondary Education), JS and FA, Ministry of Human Resource Development, representative of Planning Commission, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Women and Child Development and National Commission for Women besides representative of States/UT Governments.

Implementing Agency
Scheme is to be implemented by the State Government societies established for implementation of the Scheme. The Central share is released to the State Government, who in turn releases it to implementing agency. The applicable State share is released to the implementing agency by the respective State governments.