Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs and Tribal Affairs, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali today said that the government is taking concrete steps to bring tribal communities to mainstream by ensuring quality education to them for their socio-economic development.The Minister was addressing the people after laying foundation stone for girls’ hostel at Talwara in Reasi to be constructed with an estimated cost of Rs 3.25 crore besides kick starting work on construction of additional block for existing boys hostel with an estimated cost of Rs 1 crore.Minister of State for Finance and Planning, Information Technology, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, FCS&CA, Tribal Affairs, Relief & Rehabilitation and Labour & Employment Ajay Nanda was also present on the occasion.On the occasion, the Minister was informed that the girl’s hostel would absorb 100 students while as additional block for boys’ hostel would adjust 50 students. Zulfkar directed the executing agency to complete the works within given time so that infrastructure would be utilized for the benefit of the students. He asked the Deputy Commissioner to closely monitor the progress on the works and to ensure quality material is used for construction purpose. The Minister, while highlighting the government’s initiatives being taken up for improving the living standards of tribal populous, said that it is a firm commitment of present dispensation towards ensuring dignified and settled life to these under privileged segments of the society. In this regard, he also asked these communities to come forward and take optimum benefits of various schemes launched by the government envisaging their total transformation.The Minister informed that a tribal village near Talwara is being developed with an estimated cost of Rs 10 crore which will ensure enhanced facilities to the inhabitants. Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Finance and Planning, Ajay Nanda said the concept of good governance can only be realized if all sections of society are developed in all spheres and efforts taken by the state government would surely transform the lives of tribal communities.Commissioner Secretary Tribal Affairs, Kifayat Hussain Rizvi, Deputy Commissioner Reasi Prasanna Ramaswamy G, Director Tribal Affairs Mohd Rafi, Director FCS Jammu R A Inqlabi, Secretary Advisory Board Mukhtiar Chowdhary, SSP Reasi Tahir Bhat and other officers of various departments were also present on the occasion.