(a) the percentage of staff and students of institutions of National Importance represented by members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes communities during the last three years;
(b) the steps taken by the Government to secure adequate representation of these communities;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the number of drop-outs in the aforementioned institutions amongst Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes?
MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)
(a): The percentage of staff and students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) communities in institutions of national importance during the last three years, based on All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) is as under:
<pre>
Year Percentage of SCs & STs Teaching Staff and Students in Institutes of National Importance
Teaching Staff Students
SC ST SC ST
2011-12 3.39 0.78 12.60 5.74
2012-13 3.78 0.93 12.99 5.86
2013-14 4.12 1.07 13.47 6.18
</pre>
Source: All India Survey on Higher Education. (Data for the year 2014-15 is yet to be finalized)
(b & c): To secure adequate representation of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe students in institutes of national importance special provisions have been made by the Government. As per the existing reservation policy, 15% and 7.5% seats are reserved in admission for the students belonging to SC and ST students respectively in institutes of national importance. In Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), if seats reserved for SCs/STs are not filled, a limited number of candidates are admitted to a one year preparatory course and on successful completion of the course, the students are admitted in the next year. In IITs, Indian Institute of Science, (IISc) Bangalore and Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs), the SC/ST students are exempted from payment of tuition fees. In IITs and IISc, Bangalore SC/ST students admitted to the B.Tech and Degree programmes are provided free Book-Bank facilities, basic messing, pocket allowance, free boarding, lodging, fellowships and book allowances. IISc, Bangalore conducts summer fellowship programmes and pre-interview familiarization programmes for SC/ST candidates eligible for interview in Ph.D programmes.
In addition to the above, various scholarships/fellowships for SC/ST students are being provided by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, University Grants Commission and All India Council for Technical Education.
Special recruitment drives for recruitment of SCs/STs are also launched from time to time to fill up vacancies of staff.
(d): The statistics on drop-outs at degree and above level are not centrally maintained.
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