Question : SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME FOR MERITORIOUS SC ST STUDENTS

(a) whether the Government is considering extending the scholarship scheme to meritorious Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students to vocational courses and training; and

(b) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (Dr. SHASHI THAROOR)

(a)& (b) The ‘Central Sector Scholarship Scheme of Top Class Education for Scheduled Caste Students’, The ‘Central Sector Scholarship Scheme of Top Class Education for Scheduled Tribe Students’and the ‘Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College & University Students’ are meant for students pursuing higher studies, medical studies, engineering and professional courses. The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme is for students studying in Government, Government-aidedschool and local body schools, from Class IX to Class XII. The students studying in Diploma/Certificate level courses are not covered under the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme. At present, there is no proposal of extending these scholarship schemes to vocational courses and training.