The Union Minister
for Social Justice & Empowerment, Dr. Satyanarayan Jatiya
has said that the most important input for improving the status
of backward communities lies in improving their access to education
by assisting them in upgradation of their merits. He informed
the members of Parliamentary Consultative Committee of the Ministry
about various schemes of scholarships and loans for education
being implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
and its Finance Corporations to ensure empowerment of the weaker
sections of the society, such as, students belonging to scheduled
castes, minorities, backward classes and the disabled.
In his address
at the Parliamentary Consultative Committee Meeting, Dr. Jatiya
said that Dr. Ambedkar National Scholarship Scheme for meritorious
students belonging to SCs/STs has been launched on 14th
April, 2002 to recognize, promote and assist meritorious students
amongst these sections for pursuing higher studies. The students
scoring highest marks in the regular Class X level examination
conducted by the Education Board/Council will be awarded Rs.60,000/-.
Students securing 2nd highest and 3rd highest
marks will be awarded Rs.50,000/- & Rs.40,000/- respectively.
In case, none of the first three eligible students are girls,
the girl student scoring the highest mark will get a special award
of Rs.40,000/-. Additionally, 250 special merit scholarships @
Rs.10,000/- each will be given to select SC/ST students.
The Minister also
stated that a post-matric scholarship scheme for students belonging
to scheduled castes has grown to become the largest educational
scholarship scheme operated by the Government of India. Today
it has a coverage of over 17 lakh SC students. The assistance
under this scheme includes maintenance allowance ranging from
Rs.90 to Rs.425 per month, reimbursement of compulsory non-refundable
fees, thesis typing/printing charges, study tour charges, book
allowance. The scheme has an allocation of Rs.268 crores during
the year 2002-2003.
Dr. Jatiya also
said that a Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme for the children of
those engaged in unclean occupations is also being implemented
by the Ministry. Under this scheme, the students as hostellers
are given Rs.200 to 250 p.m. for 10 months per year and the students
as day scholars are given Rs.25 to 50 p.m. for 10 months per year.
An adhoc grant of Rs.500/- per student per annum to all students
i.e., hostellers as well as day scholars, is also given under
this scheme. Last year, about 5,00,000 students received scholarships
under this scheme. The allocation for the scheme during the year
2002-2003 is Rs.14.50 crores.
Dr. Jatiya also mentioned
that National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation
(NSKFDC) has introduced an Education Loan Scheme for the students
belonging to Safai Karamcharis going for higher studies for Graduation
and Post Graduation in Technical and Professional Courses like
Engineering, Medicines, Law and Management. Under this scheme
90% of the expenditure of course subject to maximum loan limit
of Rs.3.00 lacs or Rs.75,000/- p.a. of the total cost of the course
will be provided by NSKFDC. The balance 10% will be borne by student/State
Channelising Agencies. Rate of interest is 3% to SCAs and 6% to
students concerned.
The Minister further
stated that for educational development of members of Other Backward
Classes, pre-matric scholarships are awarded to the students belonging
to OBCs whose parent's/guardian's income from all sources do not
exceed Rs.44,500/- per annum. These scholarships are awarded on
the same pattern as to the students of scheduled castes. Those
students of backward classes who have obtained admission for MBA,
MCA and Graduate programme in Engineering conducted by the institute
recognized by AICTE, Medical courses (including Ayurvedic, Homoeopathic
and Unani) conducted by Medical Council of India and Diploma and
Hospitality Management Course approved by National Council of
Hotel Management are eligible for the loan. The loan amount includes
expenditure on admission fees and tuition fees, books/stationery
and other instruments required for the course, examination fee,
boarding and lodging expenses and insurance premium for policy.
Maximum loan limit per student is Rs.75,000/- per annum subject
to maximum of Rs.3.00 lakhs or actual expenses for the entire
course whichever is less. 90% of the expenditure is provided by
the National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation
and balance 10% is contributed by the SCA & beneficiary. Rate
of interest is 4% p.a. to the beneficiaries.
Similarly, National
Minorities Development and Finance Corporation has launched the
scheme of Educational Loan for the students of the Minority Communities
living below double the poverty line. Under this scheme, the total
amount of the loan would be of a maximum of Rs.50,000/- for the
full course period, a part of which would be paid to the Institution
on account of fees and an amount up to Rs.25,000/- would be paid
to the student concerned on account of expenditure on books, boarding
and lodging.
Dr. Jatiya also said
that a scheme of National Scholarship for Persons with Disabilities
has been introduced from the current year. According to the Scheme,
250 awards for male students and 250 awards for female students
in different categories of disabilities will be given for pursuing
higher and technical education. Amount of award will vary among
courses and will depend on availability of hostel/residential
facility with the institution. The Awardees will also be reimbursed
the course fee subject to a ceiling of Rs.10,000/- per year.
Minister of State,
Shri S.B. Mookherjee, Secretary, Shri C. Gopal Reddy and other
senior officers of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
also attended the Meeting. The Members of Parliament who participated
in the meeting are Shri Thomas Hansda, Shri, K.H. Munikyappa from
Lok Sabha and Smt. Vanga Geetha from Rajya Sabha.
