Post-Matric Scholarship for Students belonging to Scheduled Castes for Studies in India

Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India, offers Post-Matric Scholarship for Students belonging to Scheduled Castes for Studies in India. Objective The objective of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to the Scheduled Caste students studying at post matriculation or post-secondary stage to enable them to complete their education. Coverage and Value of ScholarshipThe value of scholarship includes the following for complete duration of the course: Maintenance allowance Reimbursement of compulsory non-refundable fees Study tour charges Thesis typing/printing charges for Research Scholars Book allowance for students pursuing correspondence courses Book bank facility for specified courses and Additional allowance for students with disabilities, for the complete duration of the course. The details are as follows:The value of scholarship includes the following for complete duration of the course: Maintenance allowance Reimbursement of compulsory non-refundable fees Study tour charges Thesis typing/printing charges for Research Scholars Book allowance for students pursuing correspondence courses Book bank facility for specified courses and Additional allowance for students with disabilities, for the complete duration of the course. The details are as follows: Groups Rate of Maintenance allowance (in Rupees per month) Hostellers Day Scholars Group I i. Degree and Post Graduate level courses in Medicine (Allopathic, Indian and other recognized systems of medicines), Engineering, Technology, Planning, Architecture, Design, Fashion Technology, Agriculture, Veterinary & Allied Sciences, Management, Business Finance /Administration, Computer Science/ Applications. ii. Commercial Pilot License (including helicopter pilot and multiengine rating) course. iii. Post Graduate Diploma courses in various branches of management & medicine. iv. CA / ICWA/CS/ICFA etc. v. M. Phil., PhD and Post Doctoral Programmes (D. Litt., D.Sc. etc.), Group I, Group II and Group III courses vi. LLM 1200 550 Group II i. Professional Courses leading to Degree, Diploma, Certificate in areas like Pharmacy (B.Pharma.), Nursing(B Nursing), LLB, BFS, other Para-medical branches like rehabilitation, diagnostics etc., Mass Communication, Hotel Management & Catering, Travel/ Tourism/Hospitality Management, Interior Decoration, Nutrition & Dietetics, Commercial Art, Financial Services (e.g. Banking, Insurance, Taxation etc.) for which entrance qualification is minimum Sr. Secondary (10+2). ii. Post Graduate courses not covered under Group I e.g. MA/M. Sc./M.Com./M.Ed./M.Pharma. etc. 820 530 Group III All other courses leading to a graduate degree not covered under Group I & II e.g. BA/B.Sc./B.Com. etc. 570 300 Group IV All post-matriculation level non-degree courses for which entrance qualification is High School (Class X),e.g. senior secondary certificate (class XI and XII); both general and vocational stream, ITI courses, 3 year diploma courses in Polytechnics, etc. 380 230 Maintenance allowance Additional Allowances for SC students with disabilitiesa. Reader Allowance for blind Scholars. Level of Course Reader Allowance (Rs. Per month) Group I,II 240 Group III 200 Group IV 160 b. Provision of transport allowance up to Rs.160/- per month for disabled students, if such students do not reside in the hostel, which is within the premises of educational institution. The disability as per the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 is defined as blindness, low-vision, leprosy-cured, hearing impairment, locomotor disability, mental retardation and mental illness. c. Escort Allowance of Rs.160/- per month for severally handicapped day scholar students with low extremity disability. d. Special Pay of Rs.160/- per month is admissible to any employee of the hostel willing to extend help to a severely orthopaedically handicapped student residing in hostel of an educational institution, who may need the assistance of a helper. e. Allowance of Rs.240/- per month towards extra coaching to mentally retarded and mentally ill students. The provisions in (B) to (D) will also apply to such leprosy-cured students. Note 1: The disabled students belonging to Scheduled Castes covered under the Scheme can also get such additional benefits from other Schemes, which are not covered under the scheme. Note 2: The disability as defined under the said Act has to be certified by competent medical authority of the State Govt. /UT Administration. FeesScholars will be paid enrolment/registration, tuition, games, Union, Library, Magazine, Medical Examination and such other fees compulsorily payable by the scholar to the institution or University/Board. Refundable deposits like caution money, security deposit will, however, be excluded. Note: Compulsory non-refundable fee charged by recognised institutions against free and paid seats of recognised courses can be fully reimbursed as per the fee structure approved by the competent State/Central Government authority. However, while sanctioning scholarship against paid seats, State Governments should make the income verification compulsory. Study ToursStudy tour charges up to a maximum of Rs.1600 per annum, limited to the actual expenditure incurred by the student on transportation charges etc. will be paid to the scholars studying professional and technical courses, provided that the head of the institution certifies that the study tour is essential for the scholar for completion of his/her course of study. Thesis Typing/Printing ChargesThesis typing/printing charges up to a maximum of Rs.1600 will be paid to research scholars on the recommendation of the Head of the Institution. Book Allowance for Students pursuing Correspondence /Distance Education CoursesThe students pursuing such courses are also eligible for an annual allowance of Rs.1200/- for essential/prescribed books, besides reimbursement of course fees. 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: a. Either presently engaged in manual scavenging or were so engaged up to 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. 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: a. 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 Awarda. The students may not be allowed to take up employment or render help to parents in their work during the course of studies. b. 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. c. Coaching facilities, especially to weak students may be provided. d. 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. e. 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. f. The scholar obtaining benefits under this scheme is not allowed to avail of benefits under any other pre-matric scholarship scheme. 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: services.indg.in/Govt_Schemes/