Representation Image | Courtesy: Religion Unplugged
Over 1.54 cr minority community students applied for the pre-matric and post matric scholarships across India in 2019-20 and 2020-21, said the Minority Affairs Ministry on March 31, 2022. The statement was in response to questions regarding the reach of the scheme in recent years.
Pre-matric and Post-Matric Scholarships provide aid to meritorious students belonging to economically weaker sections of minority communities. According to the Ministry, scholarships at the pre-matric level encourage parents to send their children to school and lighten their financial burden on school education.
Therefore, Congress MP Mohammad Jawed and VCK MP Ravikumar D. asked Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi about the number of minority students, especially girls, who applied for the scholarships. In reply, Naqvi said that as many as 1,54,08,111 applications were received from all states and union territories in the given time, out of which 81,90,978 applications were from girls. As many as 64,66,444 girls were sanctioned the scholarships.
Funds under the scheme
The news is especially important considering Ravikumar on March 29 asked the Ministry about total expenditure incurred on Pre-Matric, Post-Matric and the National Overseas Scholarships for SC students in the last five years. The data showed that a whopping 15 states and union territories did not receive fund allocations from the Centre in 2019-20 for Post-Matric Scholarship. Even in the following year of 2020-21, as many as six regions did not receive funds. Chandigarh and Haryana did not receive funds for either year, while Goa and Jammu and Kashmir did not receive funds from 2018-19. Daman and Diu stand apart from all these states considering it last received funds in 2016-17!
Similarly, with regards to Pre Matric Scholarship fund allocation for Schedule Caste (SC) students, nine regions did not receive funds in 2020-21. Goa did not receive any funds between 2016-17 and 2019-20 while Tamil Nadu was left without funds between 2017-18 and 2019-20. Maharashtra, Telangana and Assam have not received any funds since 2016-17.
At least for Maharashtra, the Ministry explained in a separate answer to Shiv Sena MP Rajan Vichare that all scholarships are disbursed from central funds directly to the beneficiary account under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.
“As the Scheme is implemented under the DBT mode and the scholarships are disbursed directly to the bank accounts of beneficiaries, no State-wise fund is allocated,” said Naqvi arguing that this improves efficiency and brings about transparency by removing duplicity and stopping pilferages.
According to the Ministry, Pre-Matric Scholarships amounting to ₹ 256 crore were sanctioned between 2019-20 and 2021-22. Overall, Naqvi said 83,33,875 scholarships have been disbursed to children from minority communities in Maharashtra.
The Ministry publicises the schemes through print media and sends out SMSs reminders to students eligible for renewal scholarship immediately after the portal is opened. Schemes are also publicised on social media and village Sarpanch/Pradhans are informed about the schemes through SMS. The District Magistrates/ Collectors are also directed to give wide publicity to the scheme.
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