Question : SCHOLARSHIP SCHEMES FOR TRIBAL STUDENTS

(a) The details of scholarship schemes being implemented by the government to facilitate education of tribal student in the conuntry; (b) the founds allocated, released and utilized for the purpose during each of the last three year and the current year, Scheme and State/UT-wise;

(c) whether the Government has received proposals from various States including Andhra Pradesh for release of funds under pre/post matric scholarship/vocational schemes; and

(d) if so, the details thereof , State/UT-wise; and

(e) the time by which the funds are likely to be released under the schemes?

MINISTER OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI JUAL ORAM)

(a) For the benefit of ST students, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has been implementing various scholarship schemes.

Details of these schemes are briefly as below:
(i) Pre Matric Scholarship Scheme for ST students: This scholarship is given to scheduled tribes students studying in class IX and X. This Scheme covers all ST students whose parents annual income is below Rs. 2 Lakh. Scholarship of Rs. 150 per month for day scholars and Rs. 350 per month for hostellers are given for a period of 10 months in a year.

(ii) The Post Matric Scholarship Scheme: This scheme is open to all ST students and is given to enable them to pursue higher studies at Post Matriculation level including technical and professional studies. This Scheme covers all ST students whose parents annual income is below Rs. 2,50,000/-. Compulsory fees charged by the educational institutions are reimbursed and scholarship amount of Rs. 230 per month to Rs. 1200 per month are given depending on the courses of study.

(iii) Upgradation of Merit: Through this scheme, remedial and special coaching is provided to ST students in Classes IX to XII. Special coaching is also provided to ST students with a view to prepare them for competitive examinations for seeking entry into professional courses like engineering, medicines etc.

(iv) National Overseas Scholarship Scheme: This scheme provides financial assistance to selected students to pursue Post Graduation, PhD and Post Doctoral study abroad. There are 17 awards for scheduled tribe students and 3 awards for students belonging to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups. The selected students are given tuition and other educational fees charged by the foreign universities, maintenance and other grants along with travel expenses. This fellowship is given to the students whose total annual income along with the income of the parents doesnt exceed Rs. 6 lakhs.

(v) Scheme of Top Class Education for ST students: This scholarship is given to ST students for pursuing studies at degree and Post Graduate level in any of the 213 identified institutions of excellence such as IITs, NIITs and IIMs etc. scholarships are given every year to meritorious students whose family income doesnt exceed Rs. 4.5 lakhs per year. Scholarship amount includes tuition fees, living expenses and allowances for books and computer etc.

(vi) Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship Scheme for ST students: Under this scheme 667 fellowships are available to the ST students each year for pursuing higher studies of MPhil and PhD in India. Fellowship amount varies from Rs. 16,000 to Rs. 20,000 per month for a period of 2 to 5 years.

(b) The schemes of (i) Pre Matric Scholarship
(ii) Up-gradation of Merit,
(iii) Post Matric Scholarship are implemented through State Governments / Union Territory administrations. Funds under these schemes are released to respective States/UTs. Under the scheme of National Overseas Scholarship, funds are released to Ministry of External Affairs to facilitate the selected candidates. Under the scheme of Top Class Education, funds are released to concerned institutions. Under the scheme of Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship Scheme, funds are released to the University Grants Commission to disburse the fellowship to the selected ST students. Scheme wise details of allocation (BE/RE) during the last 3 years and for the current year is given at Annexure I. The details of funds released and utilized during the last 3 years and for the current year for all the scholarship schemes is given at Annexure II.

(c) & (d) Yes Madam. The schemes of Pre Matric Scholarship/Post Matric Scholarship/Vocational Training Centre are need based and demand driven. As per the proposals from the States and as per the norms of the schemes, Ministry releases funds under these schemes. Details of funds released under the scheme of Pre-Matric Scholarship/Post-Matric Scholarship state wise are given at Annexure II. Details of funds released under the vocational training in tribal areas state wise is given at Annexure III.

(e) The release of funds under the schemes of Pre-Matric Scholarship/Post-Matric Scholarship/ Vocational Training Centers for the current financial year 2014-15 is under progress and the respective funds for the respective States including for the State of Andhra Pradesh will be released shortly.