Pre-Matric Scholarships to the Children of those Engaged in 'Unclean' Occupations

Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India, offers Pre-Matric Scholarships to the Children of those Engaged in 'Unclean' Occupations. The scheme will be implemented and administered by the concerned State Governments/Union Territory Administrations in accordance with its regulations in force. Objective The object of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to children whose parents/guardian belongs to one of the following categories, to pursue Pre-matric education: i. Persons who are either presently engaged in manual scavenging or were so engaged upto or after 1.1.97 or the date on which the "The Employment of manual scavengers and construction of Dry latrines (Prohibition) Act 1993" came into force in their State/UT, whichever is earlier. ii. Tanners and iii. Flayers Coverage, Value of Scholarship and Ad-Hoc Grant I. HostellersThe students as hostellers will be covered from class III to X. The rates of scholarships are as under: Class III to X Rs.700/- per month for 10 months II. Day ScholarsThe students as hostellers will be covered from class III to X. The rates of scholarships are as under: The students as day scholars will be covered from Class I to Class X. The rates of scholarships are as under: Class I to X Rs. 110/- per month for 10 months III. Ad-Hoc GrantAn adhoc grant of Rs. 750/- per student per annum to all day scholars and Rs. 1000/- per student per annum to hostellers would be admissible. IV. Additional Provisions for Students amongst Target Groups with Disabilitiesa. Reader Allowance of Rs.100 per month for blind students in classes IX and X. b. Transport allowance of Rs.50 per month for the disabled students not residing in the hostel located within the premises of educational institution. c. Special pay of Rs.100 per month would be admissible to any employee of the hostel willing to extend help to a severely orthopedically handicapped student residing in a hostel managed by the educational institution or by the State Government/Union Territory Administration who may need the assistance of a helper. d. Escort allowance of Rs.50 per month for severely handicapped day scholars students with lower extremity disability. e. Allowance of Rs.100 per month towards extra coaching to mentally retarded and mentally ill students in classes IX and X.  The provisions proposed in (b) to (d) above also apply to leprosy cured students. Note 1: The students amongst target groups with disabilities covered under this scheme can, however, also get such additional benefits from other schemes, which are not covered in the above provision. Note 2: The disability as per the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities), Protection of Rights and Full Participation Act, 1955 is defined as blindness, low-vision, leprosy-cured, hearing impairment, loco motor disability, mental retardation and mental illness, which has to be certified by competent medical authority of the State Government/Union Territory Administration. V. The scholarship amount will be payable from the date of joining to the date of leaving the school, excluding the period of vacation, which will be about 10 months in a year except in the cases where the students enters or leaves early in the midst of academic year. Duration and Course of StudiesThe scholarships may be given to students enrolled in class I or any subsequent class or pre-matric stage in the case of day scholars, and class III or any subsequent class of pre-matric stage in case of hostellers. The scholarship will terminate at the end of class X. The duration of scholarship in an academic year is ten months. The scholarship will be tenable only in such institutions and for such pre matriculations courses, which have been duly recognised by the concerned State Government and Union Territory Administrations. Mode of Selection The Parental occupation of the applicant is the important criteria for selection of the candidate eligibility. The concerned State Governments and Union Territory Administrations will lay down the detailed procedure for selection of students. Eligibility Scholarship will be admissible to the children/wards of Indian Nationals who, irrespective of their religion are: The Gram Panchayats / Municipalities (where an elected body exits) will be responsible for identifying the beneficiaries under BSY in their respective areas of operation and for: a. Either presently engaged in manual scavenging or were so engaged upto or after 1.1.97 or the date on which the "The Employment of manual scavengers and construction of Dry latrines (Prohibition) Act 1993" came into force in their State/UT, whichever is earlier. b. Implementing BSY according to the guidelines laid down. c. Presently engaged in Tanning and/or Flaying. Children who are born to parents who are not engaged in such occupations, but have been adopted by such person (as mentioned in sub para 1 above) will be eligible for scholarship only after a lapse of three years from the date of such adoption provided that they have been living with the adopted parents since the date of such adoption. Such children will be eligible only if their parents furnish such certificates (such as of proof of their occupation, date of adoption etc.) as may be required by the concerned State Government/Union Territory administration. A certificate should be obtained from the eligible candidates as follows: • From Children/wards mentioned in sub- para 1 (a): only once, at the time of their first application/renewal, as the case may be, of Pre-matric Scholarship, after the coming into force of this revision (of 2011), to the effect that at least one parent belongs to the relevant categories. • From Children/wards mentioned in sub- para 1 (b): every year, to the effect that at least one parent is currently engaged in tanning and/or flaying. Conditions for Award i. The students may not be allowed to take up employment or render help to parents in their work during the course of studies. ii. The award will be discontinued if a student fails to secure annual promotion except in case of unavoidable reasons to be certified by the competent authority of the scheme. iii. Coaching facilities, especially to weak students may be provided. iv. If a student violates school discipline or any other terms and conditions of the scholarship, scholarship may be suspended or even cancelled, subject to the satisfaction of the competent school authority. The State Government/Union Territory Administrations can also directly cancel the award if duly satisfied of the reasons of violation of these regulations governing the Scheme. v. Migration of students from one institution to another would not normally be allowed during the course of the academic year except under exceptional circumstances and in the interest of student's academic career. vi. The scholar obtaining benefits under this scheme is not allowed to avail of benefits under any other pre-matric scholarship scheme. vii. The students should be regular in attendance for which the yardstick is to be decided by the competent authority of the school. Renewal of scholarshipThe scholarship, once awarded, may be renewed during next academic year also by the concerned State Government/Union Territory Administration unless the competent authority of the school recommends to the State Government / Union Territory Administration, to discontinue the award with reference to relevant clause of these regulations governing the scheme. Announcement of the SchemeThe scheme will be announced by the concerned State Government/Union Territory Administration well in time, by giving advertisements in the leading language newspapers local dailies and by using other suitable publicity media. Application ProcedureThe concerned Department of the State Government / Union Territory Administration will supply the application forms, which should be received back by that Department along with prescribed certificate, by the last date. For more details, please visit:  www.socialjustice.nic.in/prematscd.php