The government has provided innumerable schemes for the benefits of students belonging to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe, who want to pursue higher education, said University of Mysore SC/ST Cell Coordinator Prof Ananjeya. 

He was speaking at an awareness programme on ‘Right to education, opportunities available for socially weaker sections of students and physically challenged’ organised by JSS College of Arts, Commerce and Science here on Tuesday.

Listing the various schemes, he said th university offers a stipend for four years to SC/ST research scholars until submitting their PhD. The Rajiv Gandhi Fellowship selects 1,000 students across the country for scholarship. More than 50 students of the University of Mysore make use of the fellowship every year. The fellowship provides students stipend up to Rs 16,000 per month, which is equivalent to the salary earned by a lecturer initially. Even lecturers can also pursue PhD as five seats are set aside for them.

For research scholars, who submit their thesis, the university provides Rs 700. Students staying in rented rooms and pursuing either postgraduation or undergraduation are given a stipend of R 1,100 per year. For participating in extra-curricular activities and sports students are given allowance of Rs 1000 per student.

The social welfare department provides allowance of Rs 8000 on completion of M Phil. For students taking up LLM or MBA, state government gives books worth Rs 5000, he added.
JSS College dean-academic Prof M B Mallikarjuna Pandit, principal Prof B V Sambashivaiah and Devaki of Azim Premji University were present.