Author: Rajeev Ranjan Roy
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: May 26, 2006
As the reservation versus affirmative action
debate intensifies, there are indicators that one of the main causes of backwardness
of OBCs in education is the Government's apathy in meeting its commitment,
and not social inequality. A case in point is the failure of the Government
to even pay scholarships to the deserving OBC students to excel in studies.
Take the case of the ambitious pre and post-matric
scholarships that are aimed at providing level-playing field to the OBC students
in pursuit of quality education.
Union Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry
needs around Rs 350 crore to meet the demand, but it disburses only around
Rs 45 crore annually among 15 lakh students. The funds crunch has left the
schemes floundering and created a situation which has been exploited by the
votaries of reservation politics to push in their agenda in the sphere of
education.
"We need Rs 100 crore more to meet the
demands under pre-matric scholarship scheme against Rs 20 crore. Similarly,
Ministry needs Rs 250 crore annually to meet the post-matric demands from
across the States. At the moment, Ministry disburses Rs 25 crore through State
Governments among around 1.53 lakh students in different States," a Ministry
official said.
"There is also a need to increase the
amount of scholarships under these schemes. Though this has been under consideration
since long, nothing substantial has been done so far," Ministry sources
said.
Under the pre-matric scheme, the day scholars
from Classes I to V get Rs 25 per month, Rs 40 for Class VI to VII scholars
and Rs 50 for scholars of Classes IX and X. The hostliers get Rs 200 to Rs
250 per month.
At the post-matric level, the maximum amount
given is Rs 425 to the hostliers, pursuing medical, engineering, agriculture
and other technical and professional courses. The day scholars get only Rs
190 per month. The hostliers pursuing diploma courses in medicines, engineering
and other such courses get Rs 290 as monthly allowance and the day scholars
get Rs 190 monthly.
"At a recent review meeting, Ministry
decided to ask for more funds to maintain the efficacy and effectiveness of
the scheme. The matter is being taken up with the Finance Ministry and the
Planning Commission. Since the state governments are willing to spend more
under the scheme, Ministry would do the needful in this regard," official
added.
The monthly allowance for students pursuing
certificate courses in Group C category like engineering, architecture, and
post-graduate courses in teachers' training, library science and fine arts
is Rs 190 for the day scholars and Rs 290 for the hostlers. Those pursuing
general courses get Rs 230 per month if living in the hostels or Rs 120. It
is only Rs 90 for the day scholars and Rs 150 for the hostlers if they are
pursuing 10+2 courses.
The pre-matric and post matric scholarships
are given to the OBC students whose parents' income from all sources does
not exceed Rs 44,500 per annum. Ministry gives 50 per cent of the funds required
as assistance to the state governments to disburse scholarships to the children
studying in government recognized schools. The balance 50 per cent is borne
by the state governments. In union territories, the centre gives 100 per cent
assistance.
"Ideally, the entire scheme needs to
be reviewed and reframed. There is an uneven distribution of beneficiaries
under the schemes. For example, under the post-matric scholarship, the majority
of beneficiaries are from Uttar Pradesh (63000), AP (15000), Gujarat (13600),
Punjab (22000), Tripura (8000), and Manipur (7000)," an official said.
"Many states are not applying for funds
too. The same is the case with the pre-matric scholarship. As many as 11 lakh
beneficiaries are just from AP, UP, Tamil Nadu and Tripura. Around 9 lakh
beneficiaries are from UP alone followed by AP where there are around one
lakh beneficiaries," he added.
