APPENDIX A (F) : REPORT ON THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA SCHEME OF SCHOLARSHIPS TO SCHEDULED CASTES, SCHEDULED TRIBES AND OTHER BACKWARD CLASSES
The Government of India sanctioned in the year 1944, a grant of Rs. 3,00,000 a year for a period of five years for scholarships to Scheduled Castes for post-matriculation studies. In the year 1948-49 another grant of Rs. 50,000 was sanctioned for scholarships to Scheduled Tribes.
The Government decided to make progressive expansion in the scheme from the year 1949-50 and also decided to extend the scope of the scheme to cover Other Backward Classes. The grants made for the purpose since then have been Rs. 10 lakhs for 1949-50, Rs. 12 lakhs for 1950-51, Rs. 15 lakhs for 1951-52, Rs.30 lakhs for 1952-53 and Rs. 62 lakhs for 1953-54.
For the year 1954-55, a budget provision of Rs. 75 lakhs was originally made for these scholarships but considering the large number of applications received from the eligible candidates (33,594), the Government of India raised the grant to Rs. 107 lakhs.
The number of scholarships awarded has increased from 665 in 1947-48 to 20,613 in 1954-55.
A statement showing the State-wise awards of scholarships made during 1954-55 is enclosed. These awards cover the following categories of candidates:
I. RENEWAL OF SCHOLARSHIPS 1953-54 scholarship-holders who have applied for renewal of their scholarships during 1954-55, provided they have passed the last annual examination and are admitted to the next higher class.
II. FRESH SCHOLARSHIPS
(a) Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes All eligible candidates whose applications were received in time and who are admitted to the next higher class on passing the last annual examination.
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(b) Other Backward Classes (i) All eligible women candidates whose applications were received in time and who have been admitted to the next higher class on passing the last annual examination.
(ii) All first class men candidates. Some candidates with lower marks in some of the States whose quota of scholarships is more than the number of women and first class men applicants, have also been selected.
Between 1947 and 1953, students of these Backward Classes were not sent abroad under the scheme as suitable candidates were not forthcoming. In the year 1953-54, it was felt that a fair number of students from these communities with excellent qualifications were available and could profit from advanced studies abroad. The Government therefore decided to award six Overseas Scholarships to students belonging to these communities. Preference is given to advanced study in the subjects of Medicine, Engineering, Agriculture, Science and Technology but candidates intending to pursue other courses are also considered. Five out of six candidates selected for 1954-55 scholarships on the recommendation of the Union Public Service Commission have already joined their institutions abroad. Twelve such scholarships are being awarded for 1955-56 and these will continue to be awarded for the next five years.
Provision has also been made under the scheme for the grant of sea passage to students of these Classes who may be awarded merit scholarships for studies abroad and uptil now one Scheduled Castes and four other Backward Classes students have availed of these facilities.
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Statement showing Distribution of Scholarships awarded to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other
Backward Classes During 1954-55.
Scheduled Castes. Scheduled Tribes. Other Backward Classes.
Name of the State. Grand
Total.
Fresh Renewals. Total Fresh Renewals. Total. Fresh Renewals. Total.
awards. awards. awards.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Part `A' States
Andhra 474 243 717 97 54 151 433 306 739 1607
Assam 203 102 305 601 368 969 175 111 289 1560
Bihar 93 82 175 479 380 859 358 372 730 1764
Bombay 558 368 926 56 58 114 186 173 359 1399
Madhya Pradesh 459 314 773 37 27 64 279 399 678 1515
Madras 379 199 578 6 8 14 1053 887 1940 2532
Orissa 42 25 67 27 20 47 189 154 343 457
Punjab 474 270 744 9 12 21 34 ... 34 799
Uttar Pradesh 2202 1230 3432 ... ... ... 223 246 469 3901
West Bengal 1027 523 1550 59 41 100 56 78 134 1784
Part `B' States
Hyderabad 95 43 138 1 1 2 214 79 293 433
Jammu & Kashmir 10 4 14 ... ... ... 11 2 13 27
Madhya Bharat 28 12 40 2 1 3 59 23 82 125
Mysore 357 202 559 ... ... ... 802 209 1011 1570
Pepsu 87 19 106 ... ... ... 41 13 54 160
Rajasthan 29 18 47 3 ... 3 130 37 167 217
Saurashtra 6 2 8 3 2 3 69 45 114 125
Travancore-Cochin 32 5 37 ... ... ... 105 37 142 179
Part `C' States
Ajmer 26 15 41 ... ... ... 17 19 36 77
Bhopal 2 1 3 ... ... ... 5 4 9 12
Coorg ... ... ... ... ... ... 31 10 41 41
Delhi 46 30 76 ... ... ... 20 5 25 101
Himachal Pradesh 6 6 12 ... ... ... 8 ... 8 20
Kutch ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 1 4 4
Manipur ... ... ... 64 23 87 ... ... ... 87
Tripura 3 4 7 17 13 30 7 8 15 52
Vindhya Pradesh 1 3 4 ... 1 1 21 14 35 40
Andaman & Nicobar Islands... ... ... ... ... ... 8 8 16 16
Sikkim ... ... ... 4 2 6 3 ... 3 9
Total 6,639 3,720 10,359 1,463 1,011 2,474 4,540 3,240 7,780 20,613
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