Question : Scholarship Schemes

(a) the number of students who have been provided post-matric, pre-matric merit-cum-means and other scholarships at various level during the last three years, State-wise;

(b) the details of funds allocation and expenditure incurred under various scholarship schemes during the last three years and the current year, scheme/year-wise;

(c) the difference in the amount of funds allocated, the actual amount released and the amount spent in this regard during the above period, year-wise;

(d) whether any study has been conducted regarding the impact of scholarships to the minorities and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether the Government proposes to raise the amount and number of beneficiaries for these scholarships during the next three years and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
(SHRI MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI)

(a): The number of students who have been provided Pre-Matric, Post-Matric and Merit-cum-Means based Scholarships during the last three years i.e. 2016-17 to 2018-19, State-wise, is annexed.

(b) & (c): The details of funds allocation and expenditure incurred under Pre-Matric, Post-Matric and Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship Schemes during the last three years i.e. 2016-17 to 2018-19 and the current year is as follows:

(In Rs. Crore)
Scheme Pre-Matric Post-Matric Merit-cum-Means
Year Funds allocated Expenditure incurred Funds allocated Expenditure incurred Funds allocated Expenditure incurred
2016-17 931.00 585.94 550.00 287.11 395.00 220.54
2017-18 1108.13 1108.13 561.29 479.72 393.54 388.79
2018-19 1269.00 1176.19 500.00 354.89 402.00 261.17
2019-20 1199.82 *738.73 482.66 *280.54 361.51 *212.48
* - Provisional Data as on 06.03.2020. Disbursement of scholarships continues during 2019-20.

(d): Evaluation Studies of Pre-Matric, Post Matric and Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship schemes have been carried out by an independent agency- M/s Research & Development Initiative in 2013-14. It observed that the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme has been able to achieve its objectives to a large extent as it has reached the most deprived in the minorities; raised their demand for school education; reduced the financial burden of poor parents; enabled most children to stay through school education; and improve their performance levels. The Post Matric Scholarship scheme has been also able to achieve its objectives to a large extent as it has reached the most deprived in the minorities; raised their demand for higher secondary and higher education; somewhat reduced the financial burden of poor parents; enabled a large proportion of beneficiaries to stay through their course/higher education; improved their performance levels. These perceived impacts of the Post-matric Scholarship Scheme are statistically significant. Similarly, the Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship scheme has been able to achieve its objectives by reaching the most deprived in the minorities; raised their demand for technical and professional education; somewhat reduced the financial burden of poor parents; enabled a large proportion of beneficiaries to stay through their technical/professional course; improved their performance levels. It has also observed that these schemes have contributed significantly towards the long term objective of empowering the minorities through education.

(e): The aforesaid three Scholarship Schemes for Minorities are proposed for continuation beyond 2019-20. As such, all aspects, including raising the number and amount of scholarships or otherwise are to be looked into by this Ministry during the process of approval of these schemes for such period.

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