The University Grants Commission (UGC) is implementing a number of schemes for educational empowerment of SCs, STs and minorities that include setting up of equal opportunity cells and scholarships.

HRD Minister Smriti Irani informed Lok Sabha today that educational empowerment schemes like setting up of residential coaching academies for minorities, SC, ST and women in central universities, deemed to be universities, establishment of equal opportunity cells for SC, ST and minorities are being implemented by the UGC.

Other UGC sponsored schemes are post-doctoral fellowships for SC, ST, Rajiv Gandhi national fellowships for SC, ST, setting up of Centre for Studies in Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, remedial coaching schemes for SCs, STs, OBC and minorities, scheme of career oriented courses in universities and colleges, construction of women's hostels for colleges.

Irani said during Question Hour that Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission Act) 2006, which came into force with effect from January 4, 2007, provides for 15 per cent, 7.5 per cent and 27 per cent reservation in admission of students belonging to SCs, STs and OBCs respectively in central educational institutions established, maintained or aided by the central government.

The HRD Minister said the gross enrollment ratio in higher education of SCs and STs in 2009-10 were 11.1 per cent and 10.3 per cent in comparison to 15 per cent of all category.

In 2010-11, the gross enrollment ratio in higher education of SCs and STs were 13.5 per cent and 12.9 per cent in comparison to 19.4 per cent of general category students and in 2011-12, the gross enrollment ratio in higher education of SCs and STs were 14.5 per cent and 10.8 per cent in comparison to 20.4 per cent of general category students.

Irani said in order to expand educational opportunities in 374 educationally backward districts, the central government had in 2009 launched the scheme of setting up of 374 model degree colleges in districts having Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) for higher education less than national average.

"The Centre has recently launched Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) which intends to incentivise the states for developing higher education with equity and inclusion. The MDCs scheme has now been subsumed in RUSA. There is a special component of equity in RUSA," she said.