(a) whether the Government has conducted any survey to collect data of students belonging to the Below Poverty Line families admitted for higher education;
(b) if so, the details thereof indicating the total number of such students who got admission for higher studies during the last three years, State/UT-wise and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to provide the higher education to the students belonging to poorest families?
MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)
(a) & (b): The Central Government had launched All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) in the year 2010-11 with the main objective to identify and capture all the institutions of higher learning in the country and collect the data on various aspects of Higher Edu- cation. All the institutions of Higher Education have nominated Nodal Officer for the survey and entering the data into the AISHE portal for all the students enrolled in Higher Education including Below Poverty Line (BPL). The survey capture data on indicators such as students enrolment by levels, social categories and gender distribution in student enrolment social category wise distribution of teaching staff, post wise gender distribution etc.
(c): The Government has launched various programmes/ schemes for higher educational development of weaker sections of the society. These initiatives includes establishment of Centrally Funded Higher Educational Institutions in the unserved areas, Scholarships, Fellowships, Interest Subsidy on Educational Loan, opening of IGNOU study centres in Educationally Back- ward Districts, etc.