Rs. 7,910 crore GoI scholarships to SC students in Gujarat in last 3 Years

New Delhi

The government of India has provided scholarships worth Rs. 7,910.41 crore to the students of schedule caste in last three years. Of this total Rs. 191.20 crore were given to students in Gujarat and Rs. 38.20 crore in state of Jharkhand. The Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Mr. Vijay Sampla provided the information in the Rajya Sabha on April 30, 2015 in reply to a question raised by MP Mr. Parimal Nathwani.

The minister stated that department of Social Justice & Empowerment is implementing five schemes for educational development of students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SCs), including the SC students in backward districts of country. These centrally sponsored schemes include Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme (PMS) for SC students, Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC students studying in class IX and X, Pre-Matric Scholarship for Children of those engaged in occupations involving cleaning and prone to health hazards, Babu JagJivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana and Upgradation of Merit of SC students.

Mr. Nathwani wanted to know about various schemes launched by the Government for the development of the students belonging to the Scheduled Castes in the backward districts of the country in last three years and the expenditure incurred.

The minister in the statement tabled in the house stated that Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme (PMS) for SC students total Rs. 5,771.52 crore central assistance was given of which Rs. 147.99 crore was given in Gujarat and Rs. 23.17 crore in Jharkhand. Of total Rs. 1,991.93 crore central assistance given under Pre-Matric Scholarship to SC students studying in class IX and X, Rs. 23.56 crore were given in Gujarat and Rs. 12.03 crore in Jharkhand, said the minister.

He also stated that under Babu JagJivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana Rs.2.55 crore were given to Gujarat and Rs. 2 crore were given to Jharkhand for setting up girls hostel, while Rs. 4.09 crore and Rs1 crore were given to Gujarat and Jharkhand respectively for setting up boys hostel. The central government also gave Rs43 lakh for upgradation of merit of SC students and Rs.13.79 crore under pre-matric scholarship to the children of those engaged in occupations involving cleaning and prone to health hazards in Gujarat, said the minister.

The minister also informed that apart from above mentioned schemes there are also central sector schemes including Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for SC students, National Overseas Scholarship Scheme for candidates for higher studies abroad and Top Class Education Scheme. Under Top Class Education Scheme the SC students are identified from premier institutions of professional education; and Free Coaching is provided to SC and other Backward Class students. National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation and National Safai Karamacharis Finance and Development Corporation also provide loans for higher education and self-employment ventures at lower interest.

DeshGujarat