Introduction of a new Centrally-sponsored Scheme of Pre-Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Castes Students, studying in Classes IX & X

The Finance Minister in his budget speech for 2011-12 had announced introduction of a new pre-matric Scholarship Scheme for needy students belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, studying in class IX & X.  Pursuance of this announcement, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved  the introduction of a new Centrally-sponsored Scheme of "Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC students studying in classes IX & X", which will be implemented with effect from July 1, this year.

The salient features of the Scheme are as follows:

The objective of the Scheme is to provide financial assistance to needy students belonging to Scheduled Castes studying in Classes IX & X in recognized educational institutions in India.

SCOPE

(i)            Scholarships under the Scheme will be available for studies in India only and will be awarded through the Government of the State/Union Territory to which the applicant belongs i.e. where he/she  is domiciled.

(ii)           Candidates belonging to one State but studying in another State will be awarded scholarships by the State to which they belong and will submit their applications to the competent authority in that State.

CONDITIONS OF ELIGIBILITY

(i)            The student should belong to Scheduled Caste.

(ii)           His/ her Parent/Guardian`s income should not exceed Rs. 2 lakh per annum.

(iii)          She / he should not be getting any other Centrally-funded Pre-Matric Scholarship.

(iv)          She/ he should be a regular, full time student studying in a Government School or in a school recognized by Govt. or a Central/State Board of Secondary Education.

(v)           Scholarship for studying in any class will be available for only one year, if a student has to repeat a class, she / he would not get scholarship for that class for a second (or subsequent) year.

VALUE OF SCHOLARSHIP

The value of scholarship includes the following for the duration of the course:-

(i)         scholarship and other grants,

(ii)        additional   allowance   for   students   with   disabilities   studying   in   private   un-aided recognized Schools.

Rates of scholarship and other grants will be as follows:

Item	Day Scholars	Hostellers
Scholarship (Rs. p.m.)  (for 10 months)	150	350
Books and Ad hoc Grant (Rs. p. a.)	750	1000

 Additional Allowances for SC students with disabilities studying    in private unaided Schools

Under the Centrally-sponsored Scheme of `Inclusive Education of the Disabled at Secondary Stage (IEDSS) implemented by the M/o HRD, D/o SE&L -assistance @Rs.3000/- p.a. is already being given under its "Student Oriented Component" to students with disabilities studying at the Secondary stage in Govt.  Local body and Govt aided schools. However, students in un-aided schools are not covered under IEDSS. Therefore, SC students with disabilities, studying in classes IX & X only inprivate un-aided recognized schools will be eligible for allowances under this Scheme, as follows:

Allowances    for    students    with    disabilities studying in Private un-aided Schools	Amount (In Rs.)
(i)   Monthly Reader Allowance for Blind students	160
(ii)  Monthly Transport Allowance for students with disabilities   (as   defined   in   the  Persons   with Disabilities Act  1995),  if such  students  do  not reside in the hostel which is within the premises of the Educational Institution.	160
(iii)  Monthly   Escort   Allowance   for   Severely Disabled (i.e. with 80% or higher disability) Day Scholars/Students with low extremity disability	160
(iv) Monthly Helper Allowance admissible to any employee of the hostel willing to extend help to a severely   orthopedically   handicapped    student residing in the hostel of an Educational Institution who may need the assistance of a helper.	160
(v)   Monthly  Coaching  Allowance  to  Mentally Retarded and Mentally ill Students	240

DURATION AND RENEWAL OF AWARDS:

(i)        The scholarship will be payable for 10 months in an academic year.

(ii)           The  award  once  made  will  continue  subject to  good  conduct  and  regularity  in attendance. It will be renewed for Class X after the student passes Class IX.

 Source : PIB Release, June 14, 2012

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