SCHOLARSHIPS
7.1 National Scholarship Division have been operating the on-going Plan scheme viz. (i) National Scholarships Scheme; (ii) Scheme of Scholarships for talented Children from rural areas; and (iii) Scheme for upgradation of merits of SC/ST students and has proposed a new Plan scheme namely Scheme of Jawaharlal Nehru Fellowships for Post- graduate Studies in different disciplines in India and abroad in Eighth Five Year Plan.
7.2 National scholarship Scheme 7.2.1 This scheme was started in 1961-62 with 2400 scholarships. The scholarships are awarded for post-matric studies on merit-cum- means basis. The income ceiling for eligibility of scholarships is Rs.25,000/- per annum after admissible rebates. The rates of scholarships vary from Rs.60/p.m. to Rs.120/- p.m. for day scholars and Rs.100/- p.m. to Rs.300/- p.m. for hostlers depending upon the course of studies. since the inception of the scheme nearly 4.75 lakh students from poor sections of the society have benefited under the scheme. Obviously this has helped the development of human resources which is so essential for national programmes.
7.2.2 With the approval of Planning Commission, it has been decided to increase the number of scholarships from 33000 to 38000 during the Eighth Five Year Plan. The outlay during the Seventh Five Year Plan was Rs. 10.70 crores for the scheme. During the 7th Five Year Plan 1.60 lakh awards were allocated to the State Governments/UTs and grants to the extent of Rs. 5.06
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crores were sanctioned to the States/UTs for implementation of the Scheme.
7.3 Scheme of Scholarships for Talented Children from Rural
Areas 7.3.1 This scheme was started in 1971-72. Under this scheme 38000 scholarships are offered every year. The distribution of scholarships is made on the basis of community development blocks in each State/UT Administration. Community Development blockwise distribution of scholarships is as under :-
i) General Category-3 Scholarships 15000 Scholarships
per C.D. Block (Total 3x5000 CDB)
ii) Scholarships for children of 10000 Scholarships
landless labourers per C.D.
Block (Total 2x5000)
iii) scholarships for Scheduled 11500 Scholarships
Caste children 2 per C.D. Block
and one more scholarship per
CDB with 20% or more SC population
(Total 2x5000)
iv) For Scheduled Tribe children 1,500 Scholarships
per Tribal C.D.Block
(Total 3x500)
7.3.2 During the Seventh Five Year Plan 1.90 lakhs awards were given to the State Governments/UTs. Grants amounting to Rs. 3.34 crores were sanctioned to the State Governments for implementation of the scheme. The evaluation study of the implementation of the scheme has already been entrusted to NIEPA with the following terms of reference :-
1. Method of Selection of candidates followed by State Governments.
2. Actual beneficiaries, their social/economic background, etc.
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3 Impact of the scheme, as reflected in subsequent academic/general careers of the beneficiaries to the extent available.
4. Relevance of the scheme, especially in the context of the introduction of Navodaya Vidyalayas.
7.3.3 The scheme aims to achieve greater equalisation of educational opportunities and to provide a fillip to the development of the potential talents from rural areas by educating them in good schools. This is the only and most important scheme at the school level for the benefit of the economically weaker sections in the rural areas. The scheme should, therefore, be continued during the Eighth Five Year Plan subject to such notifications as may become necessary as a result of evaluation of the scheme. Funds to the extent of Rs. 4.00 crores will be needed for the operation of the scheme during the Eighth Five Year Plan.
7.4 The Scheme of Upgradation of Merit of SC/ST Students 7.4.1 This scheme was started in 1987-88. The scheme was started by providing for 1000 students (670 SCs and 330 STs) in 50 schools. Allocation of schools to different States is made on the basis of their illiterate population of SC/ST communities. Remedial coaching starts at IX Class level and continues till a student has completed Class XII. Besides, special coaching is providing in Class XI and XII also. Under this scheme there is no income-ceiling. The number of beneficiaries under the scheme is most likely to go up from the existing 1,000 students over 2000 students during 8th Five Year Plan.
7.4.2 Although the scheme was started in 1987-88, it could
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actually go off the ground during 1988-89. During the 7th Five Year Plan against outlay of Rs. 5.00 crores, a sum of Rs. 65.00 lakhs was sanctioned to the State Governments for implementation of the scheme.
7.4.3 The financial and physical targets to be achieved. during the 8th Five Year Plan are at Annexure-I. The scheme is implemented through State Governments/UTs. The objective of the scheme is to upgrade the merit of SC/ST students by providing them extra coaching both remedial and special, with a view to removing their educational deficiencies in school subjects and facilitating their admission in professional courses where entry is based on competitive examination. The SC/ST students, who are selected under the scheme are placed in good residential schools having adequate facilities for good teaching.
7.4.4 The development of the weaker sections of the society is one of the priority programmes of the Government. Since Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes constitute the bulk of the weaker sections of the society, their development in educational, social and economic spheres is to be accorded special priority in the Eighth Five Year Plan.
7.4.5 The scheme is likely to revise regarding the number of awards and rate of scholarships after, ascertaining the position from the State Governments during the 8th Five Year Plan in the light of recommendations/suggestions made in the meeting held 89th August, 1991 in Shastri Bhavan under the Chairmanship of A.S/JS (BP&S). The following points of suggestions/recommendations emerged out of the meeting :-
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i) State Governments/UT Administrations should maintain personal contact with the institutions, teachers and Principals to know the progress of the students.
ii) All the State Governments/UTs will start to select students and identify institutions for organising special programmes under the scheme. (However the representative of Madhya Pradesh said his government had not yet decided to implement the scheme).
iii) Rate of scholarships for different items of expenditure like pocket money, messing charges should be increased in keeping with the present cost of living.
It is proposed to retain the outlay of Rs. 5.00 crores during the 8th Five Year Plan.
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