The mechanics of a student scholarship

The union ministry of social justice and empowerment has modified the rules for grant of money to those eligible for the postmatriculation Every year, the ministry allots scholarship money under prematric and post-matric schemes to SC, ST and OBC students. The sums of money vary according to the course, and eligibility criteria includes the income of their parents. Students enrolled in institutions across India are eligible. These are centrally sponsored schemes implemented with the objective of providing financial aid to students from weaker sections. The scholarship money covers maintenance allowance, reimbursement of compulsory non-refundable fees, study tour charges, thesis typing charges for research scholars, and a book allowance for students pursuing correspondence courses.

The ministry has tweaked the scheme to allow scholarships to be paid directly in the bank or post office accounts of students. These have to be linked to their Aadhaar numbers. This has been done to ensure that the money reaches the beneficiaries and institutions cannot make false claims of not having received the money. Institutions have also been asked to ensure that at least 50% of the beneficiaries pass their exams, failing which they will be blacklisted. scholarships given to scheduled caste (SC), scheduled tribe (ST) and other backward class (OBC) students. Instead of transferring the money to educational institutions, the government will pay the money directly to students.

NEWDELHI:

SIGNIFICANCE

According to officials in the ministry, the changes were made after it was brought to the government’s notice that some educational institutions had been pocketing the scholarship money by showing fake admissions. In some cases, the institutions would admit students, claim the money and then not follow up on the progress of the students. Tweaking the policy to ensure that the allowance and the non refundable fee will now be credited directly to the students’ account is an attempt to put an end to such malpractices, an official explained.

Earlier, the scholarship amount was released by the states; and the fee amount was credited to institution while the maintenance amount was given to the students.

The issue is important because it affects thousands of students from marginalised communities. At a time when the government is confronting unrest among sections of Dalits, in particular, getting the mechanics of the scholarships right is important.