PRE MATRIC SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CHILDREN
OF SCAVENGERS TO CONTINUE DURING 10th PLAN WITH ENHANCED
RATES
The Centrally sponsored
scheme of Pre-Matric Scholarships for the children of those engaged
in unclean occupations will continue with revised rates during
the Tenth Plan. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
expects that the Scheme benefiting 5.47 lakh students during the
current financial year and their number will go upto about 6.90
lakh during the last year of the Plan (2006-07). The scheme would
entail an outlay of Rs. 72.29 crore during the Plan period. The
purpose of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to the
children of those engaged in scavenging of dry latrines, tanners,
flayers and sweepers to enable them to get educated upto matric
level in recognized institutions.
The beneficiaries
would receive scholarship at revised rates from 1st
April this year. The annual ad-hoc grant has been enhanced by
Rs.50/- and would be Rs. 550/- for day scholars and Rs. 600/-
for hostlers. The monthly scholarships rates have also been revised
to Rs. 40 for class I to V, Rs. 60 for class VI to VIII and Rs.
75 for class IX and X for day scholars. Similarly for hostlers,
the revised rates would be Rs. 300/- for Class III & VIII
and Rs. 375/- for Class IX and X.
The Scheme is operated
through state governments and union territory administrations
with central assistance to states on 50:50 basis and cent percent
to Union Territories over and above their committed liability.
