The Tripura government is set to repurpose vacant accommodation at the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Memorial Hostel in Agartala to provide residential support to Scheduled Caste (SC) male college students, SC Welfare Minister Sudhangshu Das said on Thursday.
The initiative is aimed at helping students from economically weaker sections who come to the state capital for higher education but find it difficult to afford rented accommodation, food and other living expenses.
During an inspection of the hostel, Das said the facility has a capacity of nearly 100 students, while only around 15–16 students are currently staying there. The large number of vacant seats prompted the department to explore ways to make better use of the infrastructure.
The minister said efforts had earlier been made to attract eligible students through newspaper advertisements and by informing elected representatives, but the response was limited.
“Students from economically weaker families often face difficulties in arranging accommodation in Agartala. If the vacant seats in this hostel can be utilised, it will provide considerable relief to such students,” Das said.
He said the government expects to make the hostel available to SC male college students from different parts of Tripura within the next one to two months.
Before opening the facility, the department will undertake essential repair and maintenance work. This will include fixing doors and windows and arranging furniture and other basic facilities required for students.
Das said the Director and District Welfare Officer of the SC Welfare Department had been asked to initiate the necessary measures and complete the work within the stipulated period.
The minister also highlighted staffing-related difficulties faced by welfare institutions. According to him, the SC Welfare Department does not directly control recruitment for certain posts in schools and hostels, with appointments generally being handled through the School Education Department.
He said reluctance among some employees to serve at locations away from their homes sometimes creates difficulties in maintaining adequate staffing at welfare institutions.
The department is now working to ensure that the Ambedkar Memorial Hostel is put to effective use and that eligible SC students can access affordable accommodation while pursuing college education in Agartala.
