APPENDIX A (e) :
REPORT ON THE GOVERNMENT OF
 INDIA SCHEME OF SCHOLARSHIPS TO
 SCHEDULED CASTES, SCHEDULED
 TRIBES AND OTHER BACKWARD
 CLASSES.
 

With a view to improving the educational and economic condition of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. the Government of India have been awarding scholarships for their post-matriculation studies every year and the provision which was only Rs. 3.5 lakhs in the year 1948-49 was increased to Rs. 150 lakhs in the year 1955-56, when the following number of scholarships were awarded

        
                                          

        
                                                 No. of Scholarships awarded
         
                                                      during 1955-56
             Community
        
                                                 Overseas             Inland
                                          

        
        
             Scheduled Castes                        3                16,081
        
             Scheduled Tribes                        4                 2,883
        
             Other Backward Classes                  5                12,487
        
                       Total                        12                 31,451
        
                                          

        
                                          

Programme for 1956-57,

For the year 1956-1957, a budget provision of Rs. 150 lakhs exists for these scholarships.

Overseas Scholarships

12 scholarships have been awarded for 1956-57 four to each of the three groups of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and 'other Backward Classes on the recommendations of the Union Public Service Commission. Seven of the selected students have already proceeded abroad, two have declined the offer of scholarships, one is expected to go abroad in February, 1957 and admissions of two have not yet been secured.

Passage Grants

Four passage grants have been sanctioned during 1956-57 to 'Other Backward Classes' candidates in receipt of merit scholarships from foreign Universities., etc., without passage costs. There were no eligible candidates from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for such grants.

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Inland Scholarships

Considering the fact that the students belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are generally poor and are unable to maintain themselves even for a few months till their scholarships money reaches them, a sum of about Rs. 23 lakhs was sent to about 1,400 institutions in the months of April/May, 1956, on the basis of the number of scholars studying in such institutions during 1955-56, for disbursement to the eligible Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes candidates for a period of four months from the commencement of their academic session, at the rate of Rs. 40/- p.m. to hostellers and Rs. 27/- p.m. to day-scholars. These ad hoc payments are being adjusted in the amount of their scholarships.

The number of applications received for 1956-57 scholarships in 1time as under :-

        
        
                                          

         
                                              No. of applications received for
         
                                                           1956-57
              Community
        
                                               Fresh        Renewal      Total
        
        
                                          

        
             Scheduled Castes                  12,761        11,182    23,943
        
             Scheduled Tribes                   1,874         2,064     3,938
        
             Other Backward Classes            27,899         9,476    37,375
        
                       Total                  42,534         22,722    65,256
        
        
                                          

         
                                          

All eligible Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes candidates numbering about 21,550 and 3,540, respectively, are being awarded scholarships. This leaves a balance of about 7,680 scholarships which can be awarded to 'Other Backward Classes' from within the funds available for 1956-57. As the 'Renewal' eligible candidates alone number about 9,000 efforts are being made to secure adequate additional funds to cover all eligible 'Renewal' candidates and the deserving and meritorious 'fresh' candidates amongst 'Other Backward Classes'.