(a) whether the Government has formulated the Scheme of Top Class Education and National Overseas Scholarships for Person with Disabilities (PWDs);
(b) If so, the details thereof and number of beneficiaries from the said schemes during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise; and
(c) the measures taken to popularise the said schemes amongst the persons with disabilities in the country?
MINSTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE & EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI KRISHANPAL GURJAR)
(a) & (b) The schemes of Scholarship for Top Class Education and National Overseas Scholarship for Persons with Disabilities are being implemented by this Ministry. The scholarship for Top Class Education is meant for pursuing Post Graduate Degree/Diploma courses in the notified institutes of excellence in this scheme. This scheme is effective from current financial year 2015-16. 160 scholarships can be given every year under this scheme. This year 60 applications have been received on National e-Scholarship Portal.
The National Overseas Scholarship scheme is meant for pursuing Masters Degree and Ph.D level courses at Universities/institutes abroad. This scheme is effective from 2014-15. 20 scholarships can be given every year under this scheme. The parental income ceiling for both the above schemes is Rs. 6.0 lakhs per annum. During the year 2014-15 no candidate was found eligible. During the current financial year 2015-16, 17 applications were received out of which seven candidates have been selected. State-wise list of applications received under both the scheme is at Annexure-I.
(c) The following steps have been taken to popularize the schemes amongst the persons with disabilities in the country:-
i. Applications are called for through advertisement published in leading newspapers all over the country.
ii. Re-advertisement was published to extend the last date of receipt of applications in case of National Overseas Scholarship scheme.
iii. Notifications are issued through the website of the Department (www.disabilityaffairs.gov.in).
iv. As a part of the Digital India Campaign, the National e-scholarship portal has been launched to implement the scholarship schemes being provided by various Departments of the Government of India. The scholarship for Top Class Education scheme is being implemented through the said scholarship portal.
v. All information regarding the Top Class Education Scheme is available in the National e-Scholarship portal.
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