Lok Sabha Question No. 575 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-06
Subject: Education among the Disadvantaged
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: UDAY PRATAP SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 575 TO BE ANSWERED ON 6.2.2017

## EDUCATION AMONG THE DISADVANTAGED

## †575. SHRI UDAY PRATAP SINGH:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has tried to ascertain the factors affecting the growth of education among Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes dominated and poverty ridden areas of the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any mechanism has been set in place to improve the level of education and facilities in these areas; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)

(a)& (b): In 2012,the Ministry of Human Resource Development, got an assessment of the facilities  available  as per  Right  to  Education  (RTE), 2009 norms for primary and upper primary education in rural tribal areas of nine states namelyAssam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan and the  erstwhile  state  of  Andhra  Pradesh  by  Jamia  Millia  Islamia.  The  study  found  that 90% or more habitations had the facility of primary education within a distance of 1 km and 91% habitation had the facility of upper primary education within 3 km, there was wide variation across states in the percentage of schools in terms of facilities such as availability  of  playground,  90%  schools  had  School  Management Committee (SMCs), and regular medical check-up of students; the percentage of female teachers was below 50%, the percentage of ST teachers varied between 6.0% and 30% in different States. As per RTE norms, percentage of schools with Pupil Teacher Ratio(PTR) below 30 in schools, is quite high in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Rajasthan. The facilities of girls' toilets, ramps, drinking water were available in more than 95% of schools located in ST predominant areas of Chhattisgarh and Gujarat. The percentage of schools having library facility was much lower in the sampled schools as compared  to  all the schools in Andhra  Pradesh, Jharkhand,  Madhya  Pradesh, Maharashtra  and  Rajasthan.In  almost  98%  of  schools,  free  textbooks  were  being provided  by  the  Sarva  Siksha  Abhiyan  (SSA).About  two-thirds  of  schools  receive uniforms from SSA. 82.4% schools under SSA receive Mid-Day Meal (MDMs)

In 2013, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs conducted an evaluation study through the  National  Institute  of  Rural  Development  (NIRD),  Hyderabad,  to  evaluate  the educational schemes funded by them in Maharashtra and the erstwhile state of Andhra Pradesh. The study inter-alia observed that there was inadequate infrastructure in the Hostels and Ashram Schools for ST students and their poor maintenance. Though the scholarships  were  motivating  the  parents  to  send  their  children  to  school  and  the schemes were also helping the students  to continue  their  education,  the  quantum  of scholarship money was inadequate and there was a significant delay in disbursement of the same.

(c) & (d): I. To improve the level of education and facilities for Scheduled Castes(SCs) and  Scheduled  Tribes(STs)  students,  the  Ministry  of  Human  Resource  Development has taken several initiative which are as under:-

Under SSA, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, in association with States and UTs for universalization  of  elementary  education  for  all  children  in  the  age  group  of  6  to  14 years in the country,bridging gender and social category gaps in elementary education is one of the major goals and districts with 25% and above population of SCs and STs are considered as Special Focus Districts (SFDs).Under SSA facilities are being extended to SCs,  STs  and  Other  Backward  Classes  (OBCs)  at  elementary  level  for  text  books, uniform, MDM, fee reimbursement, Kasturba BalikaVidhyalya which have residential facility  within upper primary schools SwachVidhyalya initiative. Besides, section 12(1) (c)  of  RTE  Act  provides  25%  reservation  in  private  unaided  schools  to  children belonging to disadvantaged weaker sections.

Under  Rashtriya  Madhaymik  Siksha  Abhiyan(RMSA)  the  districts  with  high concentration  of  population  of  SCs  and  STs  have  been  identified  as  Special  Focus Districts (SFDs),based on criteria of SCs and STs population of 25% and above. Total 61  districts  have  been  identified  as  SC  concentration  districts  and  109  districts  have been identified as ST concentration districts. Under RMSA, the interventions such as opening  of  new  schools  strengthening  of  schools,  construction  of  girls hostel, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in schools, provision of vocational education have been made in SC, ST concentration districts. Besides providing access through  physical  infrastructure,  other  steps  taken  for  improving  enrolment  and reducing dropout of students include provision of learning enhancement programme for weak students, enrolment and retention drives, guidance and counseling programmes,  self-defence  training  for  girl  students,  provision  of  separate  toilets  for girls, residential quarters for female teachers in remotely located areas etc.The facilities being  extended  to  SC,  ST  and  OBC  Students  in  the  country  are  through  various schemes.

Besides, University Grants Commission (UGC) has been implementing various scholarship/fellowships  schemes  wherein  financial  assistance  to  selected  candidates belonging to SC/ST categories is provided for pursuing Post-Graduation, M.Phil./Ph.D. and Post-Doctoral research and on full time/ regular basis in Universities/Institutions/Colleges  in  India.  Many  of  these  schemes  are  funded  by Ministry  of  Social  Justice  and  Empowerment  and  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  and implemented  by  UGC  like  :-P.G.  Scholarship  for  Professional  Courses  for  SC/ST

candidates,  National  Fellowship  for  Scheduled  Castes  Students,  National  Fellowship for  Higher  Education  of  ST  Students,  Post-Doctoral  Fellowship  for  SC/ST.  The beneficiaries  of  these  scheme  are  paid  fellowship  on  DBT  platform  by  designated branches of Canara bank through Public Financial Monitoring System (PFMS)

II. The  following  Schemes  pertaining  to  SC  students  are  implemented  by  M/o Social Justice & Empowerment:-

- (i) Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC students studying in Class IX/X (Pre-matric IX and X), to support education of SC students with parents falling within income ceiling of Rs. 2.00 lakhs p.a.
- (ii) Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of  Post  Matric  Scholarship  for  SC  students  to support education of SC students with parents Income ceiling if Rs. 2.50 lakhs p.a.
- (iii) Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Pre-Matric Scholarship to the Children of those engaged  in  occupations  involving  cleaning  and  prone  to  health  hazards  No income ceiling.
- (iv) Central Sector Scholarship Scheme of National Overseas Scholarship for SC etc. candidates to support education of SC students with parent's income ceiling is Rs. 6.00 lakhs p.a.
- (v) Central Sector Scheme of National Fellowship for SC students to pursue higher studies  such  as  M.Phil  and  Ph.D.  Implemented  through  UGC.  No  income ceiling prescribed.
- (vi) Scheme for Free Coaching for SC and OBC students to support education of SC students with parent's income ceiling Rs. 6.00 lakhs p.a.
- (vii) Central Sector Scheme of Upgradation of Merit for SC students (in classes IX to XII)  (provides  facilities  to  upgrade  merit  by  education  in  residential  and  nonresidential schools).
- (viii) Central Sector Scholarship Scheme of Top Class Education for SC students (for SC students for pursuing study beyond 12 th  class.). Total income ceiling of family from all sources should not exceed Rs. 4.50 lakhs p.a.
- (ix) BabuJagjivan  Ram  ChhatrawasYojna  (BJRCY)  provides  Central  Assistance  for creation  of  hostel  facilities  to  SC  boys  and  girls  studying  in  middle  schools, higher secondary schools, colleges and Universities to the State Governments/UT Administrations, Central/State Government institutions/NGO/Deemed Universities.
- (x) Assistance  to  voluntary  Organisation  working  for  the  welfare  of  SCs  wherein Grants-in-aid  is  released  to  NGOs/VOs  working  in  the  field  of  education, healthcare, skill development etc.

III. The  following  schemes  pertaining  to  Scheduled  Tribes  are  implemented  by Ministry of Tribal Affairs:

- (i) Pre  Matric  Scholarship  Scheme  for  ST  students  to  support  education  of  ST students whose parent's annual income is below Rs. 2 Lacs.
- (ii) The  Post  Matric  Scholarship  Scheme  to  support  education  of  ST  students  at Post  Matriculation  level  including  technical  and  professional  studies  whose parents annual income is below Rs. 2,50,000/-.
- (iii) National  Overseas  Scholarship  to  provides  financial  assistance  to  selected students 17  ST, 3 particularly vulnerable  Tribal  Groups,  to  pursue  Post Graduation,  PhD  and  Post  Doctoral  study  abroad,  fellowship  is  given  to  the students whose total annual income along with the income of the parents does not exceed Rs. 6 Lacs.
- (iv) Scheme of Top Class Education for ST students, to ST students for pursuing studies and degree at Post Graduate level in any of the 158 identified institutions of excellence such as IITs, NIITs, IIMs etc.
- (v) Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship Scheme for ST students: Under this scheme 750 fellowships are provided to the ST students each year for pursuing higher studies in  India  for  MPhil  and  PhD.    Fellowship  amount  is  as  per  UGC  norms  for  a period of 2 to 5 years.

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