TWO NEW SCHEMES ON THE ANVIL FOR PROMOTION
OF QUALITY EDUCATION AMONG SCHEDULED CASTES
Two new schemes are
on the anvil for promotion of quality education among Scheduled
Castes. Presiding over a function to give away Dr. Ambedkar National
Scholarships to meritorious students belonging to Scheduled Castes
and Scheduled Tribes here today, the Minister of Social Justice
and Empowerment Dr. Satyanarayan Jatiya said that the government
proposes to arrange admissions in Public schools for deserving
SC students. He said that the government also proposes to set
up residential schools for SC students in districts having high
concentration of Scheduled Castes. The Minister said that both
schemes are meant to provide quality education to dalits. Referring
to Dr. Ambedkar National Scholarships Scheme, Dr. Jatiya said
that it has been launched to prevent dropouts among meritorious
SC students particularly in rural areas where it is difficult
for them to continue studies beyond matriculation.
The Deputy Chairman
of the Planning Commission Shri KC Pant emphasized the need for
imparting quality education to students belonging to SC/ST communities.
He called for giving special attention to girl child in this regard.
Shri Pant said that proper and quality education will alone help
the beneficiaries in utilisation of opportunities. Referring to
the ‘Sarva Shikhsha Abiyan’ Shri Pant said we have to look beyond
it and see what type of education is being imparted. He said that
realization among all parents that education is key to progress,
would in itself solve several problems. Shri Pant expressed hope
that Dr. Ambedkar National Scholarships Scheme would enthuse other
students to achieve merit.
The Deputy Chairman
was speaking after giving away Dr. Ambedkar National Scholarships
for 2001-2002 to 66 meritorious students belonging to Scheduled
Castes and Scheduled Tribes. These students had come from Punjab,
Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Pondicherry. They received Rs.
15.60 lakh as scholarship amount.
Earlier speaking
on the occasion, the Ministers of State for Social Justice and
Empowerment Shri Kailash Meghwal and Shri Nagmani called for a
review of the existing schemes and programmes for ensuring social
justice and empowerment of the Scheduled Castes.
283 students belonging
to SC and ST communities from 19 states and UTs have so far received
Dr. Ambedkar National Scholarship for 2001-02. The information
about SC/ST meritorious students from 16 States/UTs and three
Central Boards, viz., CBSE, CISCE and National Open School is
being collected for granting them the scholarship.
The Scheme was launched
by Dr. Satyanarayan Jatiya on April 14, 2002 and was inaugurated
by the Deputy Prime Minister Shri L K Advani on February 17, 2003.
The Ambedkar National Scholarship is given to three students each
belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes having scored
highest marks in regular class X level examination conducted by
the Education Board / Council. A special award has been instituted
for the girl student securing highest marks in case she is not
among the three meritorious students. The student securing highest
marks in each Board receives Rs.60,000 as scholarship while the
student securing second highest marks is given Rs.50,000 and the
student with third highest marks gets Rs.40,000.
In order to benefit
more students in view the large SC & ST population, the Ambedkar
Foundation, which gives away these scholarships has also instituted
250 special merit scholarships for students securing next higher
marks after 1st, 2nd and 3rd
positions. Of these 167 have been earmarked for SC students and
83 for ST students in 35 States and Union Territories. Ten thousand
rupees are given for each of these special awards. There are 26
Education Boards/ Councils in the country and the total financial
implication under the Scheme would be Rs.125.88 lakhs per annum.
