(a) Whether Education Scholarship is being paid regularly to the
Children of Beedi Workers;
(b) If so, the details thereof alongwith the funds required and released for the academic year 2005 and 2006 to Tamil Nadu;
(a) Whether any information has been received by the Union Government
about non-receipt of the scholarships by most of the eligible students in
Tamil Nadu;
(b) If so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
(c) The steps taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT (SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR SAHU)
(a) : Yes, Sir.
(b) : During the year 2005-06, Rs. 4.13 Crore were released for payment
of scholarships to the eligible children of beedi workers form Tamil Nadu.
However, Rs. 7.11 Crore are still required to be released to clear the backlog.
During the year 2006-07 an amount of Rs. 14.8 Crore has been sanctioned to the
Hyderabad Region as a whole. The actual requirement of funds for Tamil Nadu
for 2006-07 will be known by September end.
(c) to (d): Yes, Sir. With the liberalization and enhancement in the scheme for grant
of scholarships/stipend to the eligible children of beedi workers a large number of
students from Tamil Nadu became eligible for grant of scholarship/stipend. However,
the scholarships/stipends could not be disbursed to all of them due to paucity of funds.
(e):The concerned regions are being asked to clear the backlog of payment of
scholarships for 2005-06.