In Government Depressed Classes hostels (numbering 11) provision has been made for free boarding and lodging, medical help, books, beds, furniture and T.A. In these boarding homes, physical exercises, drills and games are compulsory. There are 66 aided hostels in the State. The scale of grant for general and non-Depressed Classes hostels is only a moiety of the pay of the warden subject to a maximum of Rs. 7-8-0 and half the rent in the case of hostels housed in private buildings. In the case of Depressed Classes Hostels, full cost of the entire establishment, rent, as well as boarding charges are met by the Government. A Depressed Classes pupil in an aided institution is entitled to the full boarding grant even if he fails to secure yearly promotion from class to class. The facilities afforded by the Government to these Classes are fully availed of by them. The following amounts for hostels and other
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facilities for the Depressed Class pupils were sanctioned during 1952- 53:
(1) Government Depressed Classes Hostels and Boarding Houses-Rs. 1,16,440.
(2) Aided Depressed Classes Hostels-Rs. 2,03,290.
(3) Clothes-Rs. 3,000.
(4) Books and Slates-Rs. 3,354.
ORISSA The State has granted the following educational facilities to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes students:
(a) Monthly stipend to Adivasi and Harijan students residing in hostels attached to colleges, schools and recognised messes. These are awarded on the basis of poverty-cum-merit and vary from individual to individual subject to the following ceilings per student:
Rs.
M.A. M.Sc. B.A. B.Sc. 35
I. A. I. Se. . . . . . 30
Class XI to VIII . . . . 20
Class VII & VI . . . . 15
Class V and IV . . . 10
(b) Annual lump grants are paid today-scholars subject to the following ceilings:
Colleges 65
High school 55
Middle English schools 45
(Classes VI & VII only)
(c) The students of Primary schools and Primary classes get reading and writing materials in the shape of slates, books, pencils, etc. free of cost.
(d) Free studentships are granted.
PEPSU The State Government organised a fund of Rs. 15 lakhs in 1949 to be spent in three years to ameliorate the condition of the Backward Classes (including Scheduled Castes) and a Department of Backward Classes was organised with an Advisory Committee of 15 members. This Committee included nine M.L.A.'s (Scheduled Castes) and five other prominent members of Backward Classes with the Minister-in-charge of Backward Classes as the Chairman. The following benefits have been provided out of this fund:
A year to year provision of Rs. 4,42,000 is sanctioned for the payment of stipends to Backward Classes students which are awarded by a Stipend Committee constituted for the purpose. The scale of stipends varies from Rs. 1-8-0 in the first year rising to Rs. 20 per mensem in M.A. All the stipendiaries are paid tuition fees and the resident students receive their hostel expenses at Rs. 20 per mensem
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in schools and Rs. 30 per mensem in colleges. The number of sti- pendiaries (boys and girls) rose from 2,425 to 11,074. Since the award of stipends for Class I and Class II students (Primary classes) did not prove fruitful, this award- during 1952-53 was restricted to students from class III onwards. Since then 1,628 fresh students of the fourth and higher classes have received these stipends. The age of admission and continuance of education have been waived in the case of Backward Classes students and they can receive education in Government schools till 23 years of age. This limit is being further raised to 25.
Vocational Training Centres (for boys and girls) were started at Dharampore and Faridkot in 1950-51. 30 boys and 30 girls received free instruction in tailoring in these centres while the boarding expenses of the candidates were met by the Government. In December, 1951, a training centre for tailoring and blacksmithy was started at Phagwara, another in Hosiery was started at Sangrur and two midwifery classes were started at Faridkot and Patiala. Successful trainees were awarded diplomas in respective crafts. Since 1952 the hosiery training centre at Sangrur has been converted into a tailoring-cum- work centre and 12 workers since then are employed on a daily-wage basis. All the hosiery trainees are given free training in addition to a monthly stipends at Rs. 25 each.
PUNJAB Hindu Harijan and Backward Classes Sikh students studying in recognised institutions in the State are awarded stipends at the fol- lowing rates:
Rs.
Per month
9th and 10th classes . 6
Intermediate (Arts) . 15
B. A. (Arts) . 20
M. A. . . . 25
J. S. T. C. . . . 15
JT & ST students studying in Training
classes attached to privately ma-
naged recognised institutions 15
B. T. students 25
Science students of affiliated colleges who do not get assistance from the Central Government are awarded by the State Government stipends equivalent to those admissible to Art students. Harijan students who study from the fifth to M.A. in recognised schools and colleges of the State are entitled to freeships.
RAJASTHAN The following educational facilities are provided for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other Backward Classes students:
(1) Exemption from tuition fees in all Government educational institutions.
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(2) Scholarships for education to those students studying in the fifth class and above.
(3) Hostel facilities in the Government Backward Classes Hostels with free board and lodging.
(4) Free books and accessories to students studying upto the, 4th class.
(5) Sanction for the payment of university examination fee in special cases.
(6) With a view to affording opportunities for higher and specialised learning, one seat each in the Sawai Mansingh Medical College, Jaipur and M.B.M. Engineering College, Jodhpur, has been reserved for students belonging to other, Backward Classes. The Birla Engineering College, Pilani, has reserved two seats for these students and at the time., of admissions to these institutions the percentage of marks prescribed is relaxed to 45 per cent for Scheduled Castes,. Scheduled Tribes and other Backward Classes students.
SAURASHTRA Only Harijan students are exempted from the payment of tuition fees at all stages of Education in all Government institutions. The question of granting such exemption in non-Government institutions is under consideration. However, about 50 per cent. of such students attending non-Government schools are granted free-studentships.
TRAVANCORE-COCHlN The following facilities are provided to the students of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Kudumbies for two years of study in, each class:
(a) Free education.
(b) Lump sum grant of Rs. 25 in Middle school classes and Rs. 40 in High school classes. Also supply of books in Primary classes.
(c) The following concessions are given in College classes:
(i) Full-fee concession.
(ii) A lump sum grant for the purchase of books and dress together with a monthly stipend payable in advance of each month as detailed below:
Stipend to students
coming from places
Lump Sum grant beyond 5 miles of the Others
College
Rs.
First University Class 50
Second University Class 50
Third University Class 70
Fourth University Class 60 } 5
Post-Graduate Course 100
Non-Degree course in Sanskrit College,
Trivandrum . . . . 100
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TRIPURA There is no general rule for the payment of freeships to students of Scheduled Castes. But they are usually granted such concessions in deserving cases having regard to their financial position and merit. There is provision for award of textbooks and stipends on grounds of poverty to these students.
UTTAR PRADESH The Scheduled Castes students are admitted to the infant class twice a year and the period of admission is extended in such cases by a fortnight at the beginning of each term.
Under Section 96(c) of the Education Code one out of every six vacancies is reserved for students belonging to Scheduled Castes in all Government and aided High Schools and Intermediate colleges at the time of new admissions and for an extended period of one week after the beginning of the annual session; same procedure is adopted for admission in Government and aided hostels.
In Training colleges three scholarships are reserved for pupil- teachers belonging to Scheduled Castes. In Normal schools 10 per cent. seats are reserved and stipends are awarded during the training period. Reservation of vacancies in Training institutions is also made for girl students and instructions have been issued to admit sufficient number of such qualified candidates.
In all schools run by District and Municipal Boards, free educa- tion is provided for Scheduled Castes and partial reimbursement made by the Government for the loss sustained. Government schools also provide free education for such students- and aided institutions have been instructed to adopt a similar procedure; the loss sustained by them is to be made good by the Government.
Resrtictions under Sections 62, 63, 115 and 116 of the State Education Code have been waived in the case of Scheduled Castes students exempted from the payment of tuition fees on grounds of poverty. Such students are exempted under Section 88-B of the Code from games and medical fees and the loss sustained by institutions is met by reimbursement from the Government. Under Section 159 of the Code, guardians who are unable to pay fees are exempted from the payment of conveyance charges for girl students. The University and College authorities also have been requested to exempt the Scheduled Castes students from the payment of fees; the loss sustained is met by reimbursement from the Government.
Students receiving scholarships under 357(d) and 357(f) of the Education Code are exempted from the payment of hostel fees. Under Section 140(i) of the Code, the poor Scheduled Castes students are exempted from the payment of hostel fees.
Special appointments have been made to look after the interests of Scheduled Castes in each hostel attached a teachers' training institution. Similar arrangements have been made for 20 Government and 20 aided institutions.
50 separate hostels for Scheduled Castes students have been established in various districts of the State to ease the accommodation problem for such students although the Government do not favour the idea of separate hostels.
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The following scholarships and other facilities have also been provided:
(i) Scholarships for Post-Graduate classes, Law classes, Degree classes (B.Sc., B.Com., etc.), Higher Secondary school, Junior High school, Primary classes, Engineering (Banaras Hindu University), Sanitary Inspectors Training course, M.B.B.S., Training colleges, and Model school classes.
(ii) Scholarships through competition.
(iii) Financial assistance for purchase of books etc. to Scheduled Caste students.
(iv) Financial assistance for examination fees.
(v) Financial assistance for Vocational Training.
(vi) Reward on attendance to Scheduled Caste girl students.
Roorkee University provides the following facilities:
(i) For admission to the entrance examinations (Engineering, Overseer and Draftsman classes) age limit extended by 3 years.
(ii) Ten per cent seats for the aforesaid courses are reserved for Scheduled Castes candidates, and
(iii) three scholarships of Rs. 50 each per mensem and four of Rs. 25 per mensem reserved for such candidates.
VINDHYA PRADESH Educational facilities and funds provided for Scheduled Castes are given below:
(i) Payment of union, games, admission, examination fees and boarding house.-Rs. 6,000.
(ii) Free supply of books and stationery to students up to class VIII.-Rs. 15,000.
(iii) Scholarships to students from Class VI and above- Rs. 10,000.
(iv) Boarding and Lodging for students-Rs. 10,000.
(v) Maintenance of 25 night schools opened in the year 1952-53 at Rs. 250 per school-Rs. 6,250.
(vi) Maintenance of three Harijan Ashrams opened in 1952-53 at the rate of Rs. 20 per mensem per head run by nonofficial agencies-Rs. 18,000.
(vii) Maintenance of two Government Ashrams-Rs. 16,000.
(viii) Clothing to students of Scheduled Castes studying in schools and colleges--Rs. 15, 000. Total-Rs. 96,250.
Details about all the above items excepting VI & VII are similar to those against similar items under facilities to Scheduled Tribes (vide Table II). The three Harijan Ashrams referred to in item (vi) above, are at Datia, Niwari, and Charanpaduka and are run under
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the supervision of a non-official organisation known as the Vindhya Pradesh Harijan Sewak Sangh. Grants are given by the government to the Ashram for the actual number of Harijan inmates at Rs. 20 per head for the actual period such students receive education in these Ashrams. The two Government Ashrams mentioned in item (vii) are located at Govindgarh and Nowgong and are known as the Kasturba Harijan Balika Ashrams. Matri Mandus Education is imparted in these Ashrams to Harijan balikas. Maternity cases are also treated here. These Ashrams are run by the Backward Classes Department of the State Government.
WEST BENGAL There is a fund administered by the government for the education of the Backward Classes in the State. Expenditure is met for the education of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other Backward Classes generally on the following lines:
(1) Stipends for students of Primary classes mainly in Non- District School Board areas at Rs. 2 per mensem for classes I and II and at Rs. 3 per mensem for classes III and IV.
(2) Stipends for students of Secondary classes-
(a) Rs. 4 per mensem for classes V and VI Rs. 5 per mensem for classes VII and VIII Rs. 6 per mensem for classes IX and X.
(b) To meet boarding charges in recognised hostels and messes such students are paid Rs. 10 per mensem in rural areas and Rs. 15 per mensem in urban areas
(3) University and College students-
(a) I. A.-Rs. 10 per month I.Sc.-Rs. 15 per month B.A. & B.Com.-Rs. 15 per month B.Sc.-Rs. 20 per month Post-Graduate students-Rs. 25 per month.
(b) To meet boarding charges in recognised hostels and Messes stipends at Rs. 15 per mensem are given to students from all areas.
(4) Professional and Technical Institutions-
For B. T., Medical & Engineering Rs. 50/-(inclusive of messing)
Medical Schools, Overseer & allied
courses . . . . Rs. 40/- p.m.
College of Arts, Kalimpong Arts &
Crafts, Kurseong St. Alphoneus
School . . . . Rs. 30/- p.m.
Non-Govt. P. T. Schools, Budhist
Tols etc. . . . . . Rs. 20/- p.m.
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(5) Miscellaneous Institutions-Stipends for Vocational, Industrial, Survey, Agricultural, Veterinary, Ayurvedic education etc. Rs. 10 to Rs. 25 per mensem.