Scholarships to SCs and OBCs

The details of schemes for providing pre-matric and post-matric scholarships to SC/OBC students are given below :-The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing the following centrally sponsored schemes for providing pre-matric and post-matric scholarships to SC/OBC students. All these schemes are implemented by the State Governments/UT administrations, which are provided Central assistance in accordance with the funding pattern of each scheme.

1. Scheme of Post Matric Scholarships to the Students belonging to Scheduled Castes for Studies in India:

The objective of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to the Scheduled castes students studying at post matriculation or post-secondary stage to enable them to complete their education. The financial assistance includes maintenance allowance, reimbursement of non-refundable compulsory fee charged by educational institutions, Book Bank facility and other allowances.

Income ceiling:- The scholarship is to be paid to the students whose parent’s/guardian’s income from all sources does not exceed Rs. 1.00 lakh per annum.

Date of last revision:- The scheme was last revised w.e.f. 1-4-2003. The proposal for further revision is under consideration.

2. Scheme of Pre Matric Scholarships to the children of those engaged in unclean occupation:

The objective of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to the children of scavengers, sweepers having traditionally link with scavenging, flayers and tanners, irrespective of their religion, to pursue education upto matriculation level. The target group covers SC students also. The State Governments and Union Territory Administrations implement the Scheme. The financial assistance includes monthly scholarship and annual adhoc grant. The Scheme covers eligible students studying in Class I to X.

Income ceiling:- There is no income ceiling prescribed under the scheme.

3. Scheme of Post Matric Scholarships to the OBC Students:

The objective of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to the OBC students studying at post matriculation or post-secondary stage to enable them to complete their education. The financial assistance includes maintenance allowance, reimbursement of non-refundable compulsory fee charged by educational institutions, Book Bank facility and other allowances.

Income ceiling:- The scholarship is to be paid to the students whose parent’s/guardian’s income from all sources does not exceed Rs. 44,500/- per annum.

4. Scheme of Pre-Matric Scholarships to the OBC Students:

Under this scheme, scholarships are awarded to the students belonging to OBCs from Class-I to Class-X for day scholars and from Class-III to Class-X for hostellers. The duration of Scholarship in an academic year is 10 months. The scholarship is tenable in such institutions and for such pre-matriculation courses, which have been duly recognised by the concerned State Government/Union Territory administration. The financial assistance includes maintenance allowance and adhoc-grants.

Income ceiling:- The scholarship is to be paid to the students whose parent’s/guardian’s income from all sources does not exceed Rs. 44,500/- per annum.

The scholarship schemes are revised from time to time, keeping in view various factors including increase in Consumer Price Index (CPI) and availability of funds.

The proposal to increase the income ceiling, scholarship rates and other allowances under these schemes, except the “Pre-matric scholarship scheme for children of those engaged in unclean occupation” (which was last revised with effect from 1.4.2008), is under consideration. However, it is not possible to indicate a time-frame in this regard.

This information was given by Shri. D. Napoleon, the Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

COURTESY: PIB