(a) the facilities being provided to the students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SCs) in addition to scholarship and hostel facilities to study abroad; and
(b) the number of students to whom the said facilities were provided during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise, including Chhattisgarh?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI VIJAY SAMPLA)
(a) The National Overseas Scholarship Scheme provides facilities to students belonging to Scheduled Castes etc for studying abroad. The details are as under :
i) Annual maintenance and contingency allowances as detailed below
Annual Allowances For United Kingdom For United states of America and other countries
Maintenance allowance GBP 9900 US$15400
Contingency Allowance GBP 1100 US$1500
ii) Incidental journey allowance of US $ 20/- (twenty) or its equivalent in Indian Rupees and equipment allowance of US $ 20/- (twenty).
iii) Actual visa fees in Indian Rupees.
iv) Air passage from India to the nearest place to the educational institution and back to India, by economy class and shortest route in arrangement with the national carrier.
v) Fees and Medical Insurance Premium- actual as charged.
Financial assistance under the Scheme is provided for a maximum period of 4 years for Ph.D. and 3 years for Master’s programme.
No Hostel facility is provided under the scheme. However maintenance allowance for meeting expenses of boarding & lodging as mentioned above is paid to the awardees studying abroad
(b) The details of the number of Scheduled Caste students selected for scholarship abroad including Chhattisgarh for higher studies are given in Annexure.