SC/ST students' scholarship hiked after decades

The scholarship being given to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe has been hiked after three decades. The change will come to force from this academic year itself. With this significant decision of the State government as many as 25 lakh students will be benefited.

The students of first to fifth standard who are receiving a scholarship of Rs 75 per year will be hiked to Rs 250. Boys studying in 6th and 7th standard will receive Rs 250 as against the present amount of Rs 75 meanwhile girls will receive Rs 350. Boys from 8th to 10th standard will receive Rs 500 as against the present amount of Rs 100 while girls will receive Rs 700 as against the present Rs 600 scholarship. The income limit of families to receive the scholarship too has been reduced, informed sources in Social Welfare Department.

Bank Account

The students who are receiving the scholarship will be provided with a ‘zero balance’ account by the department. In this regard talks are being held with SBI and SBM. The scholarship amount will be directly credited to the accounts of the students. The students will also be provided with biometric cards, which can be used by the students from 1st standard till they complete their education. This card, according to the sources, can be useful in keeping track of students who discontinue education too.

The previous budget had spoken on renewal of annual scholarship for SC/ST students who have not been residing in the hostels.

The government had passed order for hiking the scholarship on July 7 last year and the same was to come to force from June 1, 2011.

District Social Welfare Officer Prabhakar said that in total 36,320 SC and 4,926 ST students from Pre and post metric will avail this benefit.