LOK SABHA
Scholarships for Students of Reserved Categories
449. SHRI C.N. ANNADURAI
SHRI GAUTHAM SIGAMANI PON
(a) whether the Government has introduced various scholarships for the meritorious students of Schedule Castes/Schedule Tribes (SCs/STs) studying in schools in the country and if so, the details thereof during the last three years and the current year, year/scholarship- wise;
(b) the number of SC/ST students applied for scholarships and amount released by the Government during the last three years and the current year, State/ UT-wise and year-wise;
(c) whether several students from SCs/STs/OBCs and economically weaker section are not receiving scholarships in time;
(d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure timely action in this regard; and
(e) whether the Government has started transfer scholarship amount directly into the beneficiary student account and if so, details thereof along with the number of students benefited till date?
(SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)
(a)to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN PARTS (a) to (e) OF THE REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *449 ASKED BY SHRI C.N. ANNADURAI AND SHRI GAUTHAM SIGAMANI PON, HON’BLE MPs, LOK SABHA REGARDING SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS OF RESERVED CATEGORIES FOR ANSWER ON 04.04.2022.
(a) & (b): The Government has introduced various scholarships for the meritorious students including Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (SCs/STs) students studying in schools in the country. Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarship schemes for all eligible SC/ST students are also being implemented by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) and Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA).
Under the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL) of Ministry of Education, the following scholarship schemes for meritorious students are being implemented, details of which are given below:
1. National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS):
The Central Sector Scheme ‘National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS)’ was launched in 2008, with the objective to award scholarships to meritorious students of economically weaker sections to arrest their drop out at class VIII and encourage them to continue their education at secondary stage. One lakh fresh scholarships are awarded to selected students of class IX every year with continuation / renewal in classes X to XII for study in State Government, Government-aided and Local body schools under the scheme. The amount of scholarship is Rs. 12000/- per annum from 1st April 2017 (earlier it was Rs. 6000/- per annum).The scheme is 100% funded by Central Government.
The NMMSS is open to students of all categories including SC and ST, based on their means and merit. The parental income ceiling for the scheme is Rs. 3.5 lakhs per annum. Selection examination is conducted for students of 8th standard every year by State/UT concerned. There is reservation as per the State Government norms. The number of SC/ST beneficiaries and amount sanctioned under NMMSS during the last three years and the current year is as follows:
|
S.No. |
Financial |
SC- |
ST- |
||
|
No. |
Amount |
No. |
Amount |
||
|
1 |
2018-19 |
59314 |
69.01 |
12186 |
13.82 |
|
2 |
2019-20 |
60438 |
70.38 |
27495 |
31.71 |
|
3 |
2020-21 |
58307 |
69.13 |
22562 |
26.80 |
|
4 |
2021-22 as on 31.03.2022 |
48116 |
57.74 |
16460 |
19.75 |
The detail of scholarship disbursed to the SC & ST students under NTSS is as follows:
|
Financial Year |
No. of students benefitted |
Amount of scholarship disbursed (in Rs.) |
No. of students benefitted |
Amount of scholarship disbursed (in Rs.) |
|
SC |
ST |
|||
|
2021-22 |
496 |
9591000 |
163 |
3135000 |
|
2020-21 |
244 |
4332000 |
118 |
2055000 |
|
2019-20 |
619 |
11985000 |
204 |
3795000 |
|
Total |
1359 |
25908000 |
485 |
8985000 |