New Delhi: In a bid to help litarcy level improve among Scheduled Tribe (ST) girls, the Central Govenment would launch a scheme for them from April 2008.

A meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, today, okayed a revised 100 per cent central gender specific scheme for ST girls, residing in low literacy districts from 2007-08.

Under the Eleventh Plan period, an amount of Rs 298.79 crore has been earmarked for the purpose. The scheme would soon be implemented across 54 identified districts where the ST population is 25 per cent or more, and ST female literacy rate below 35 per cent as per 2001 census, the official spokesperson informed.

The proposed scheme will bring closer the areas below block level inhabited by the notified Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs), she further added the naxal-affected areas would be given priority. This scheme will help in lessening the failures at the elementary level by creating the required infrastructure for good health and education.

It's estimated that the scheme would provide much-needed aid to students as it would assist them at the rate of Rs. 26,000 per student per annum, along with improved rates for free meals, books and uniforms, etc. The changed scheme and financial norms would be implemented from April 2008, the govt. spokesperson informed.