Question : ENROLMENT OF STUDENTS FROM EDUCATIONALLY BACKWARD DISTRICTS

(a) whether the Government has identified the educationally backward districts of the country;

(b) if so, the total number of such districts, State-wise;

(c) whether any assessment has been made in regard to the percentage of admission in higher education in such districts, State-wise;

(d) If so , the details in comparison with the national average;

(e) whether the Government is formulating an action plan to increase the number of students granted scholarships, every year under the Eleventh Plan;

(f) if so, the details thereof; and

(g) the target fixed regarding the total number of students to be granted scholarships every year during the Tenth Plan and whether the same has been achieved?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT(SMT, D. PURANDESWARI)

(a)to(d): The University Grants Commission has identified districts with lower than the national average Gross Enrolment Ratio and low density of Colleges per lac of population. The number of such districts in different States is at Annexure.

(e)&(f): Subject to finalization of the XI Plan, the allocation of resources for scholarships is expected to be enhanced.

(g): The tenth plan had two schemes up to 2004-05 namely the National Scholarship Scheme and the Scheme of Scholarship for talented children from Rural Areas at Secondary Stage and during 2005-06 and 2006-07, the two schemes were merged and modified into a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme called the National Merit Scholarship Scheme. The earlier two schemes had a target of covering 81,000 students in a year while the latter scheme had a target of covering about 28,000 students per year in the country. For a variety of reasons, full targets could not be achieved during the tenth plan.
The University Grants Commission is implementing the following schemes for awardof scholarship for a period of two years:-
1. P.G.Scholarship for MTech/M.E. to Gate qualified students (about 1200 slots per year).
2. Indira Gandhi P.G.Scholarship for Single Girl Child (1200 slots per year).
3. P.G.Merit Scholarship for University Rank Holder (2375 slots per year).
4. P.G.Scholarship for Professional Courses for SC/ST Candidate (1000 slots per year).