New Delhi: In a major outreach to the Scheduled Castes (SC) community, the Narendra Modi government has approved significant changes to the centrally-sponsored scholarship scheme for students belonging to the community.
Union Cabinet Wednesday approved changes to the ‘Post Matric Scholarship to students belonging to Scheduled Castes (PMS-SC)’ scheme.
Which is expected to benefit over 4 crore SC students in the next five years. According to sources, the scheme, which helps students of the poorest SC households to complete their higher education.
Had faced uncertain times with the current fund-sharing formula and was shut down in many states. Under the current formula, the Centre provides only funds above the ‘committed liability’, which in effect translates to about 11 per cent of the total cost.
This led to many states ending the scheme. The issue was escalated to the Prime Minister’s Office and was discussed at a meeting with Modi, who finally gave a go-ahead to the changes. The Cabinet has now approved a total investment of Rs 59,048 crore for the scheme, of which the central government will spend Rs 35,534 crore around 60 per cent of the total. State governments will have to cover the remaining amount.
“This replaces the existing system and brings greater involvement of the central government in this scheme,” said the senior government official.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had recently criticised the Modi government over the issue. “In BJP/RSS vision of India, Adivasis and Dalits should not have access to education. Stopping scholarships for SC-ST students is their way of ends justifying their means,” he had tweeted.
It is estimated that 1.36 crore poorest students, who are currently not continuing their education beyond Class 10 would be brought into the higher education system in the next 5 years, the official added.
In addition to this, the scheme will be run on an online platform with cyber security measures that would assure transparency, accountability, efficiency, and timely delivery of the assistance without any delays.
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