Lok Sabha Question No. 3450 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-15
Subject: Support for Students from Rural and Backward Areas
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: KONDA VISHWESHWAR REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3450 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2018

## Support for Students from Rural and Backward Areas

## 3450. SHRI KONDA VISHWESHWAR REDDY:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

(a) whether his Ministry is planning to support students from backward and rural areas in the light  of  the  current  struggles  in  Universities  for  funding  students  from  underprivileged backgrounds;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

(a), (b) & (c ) The Ministry of Panchayati Raj  oversees the implementation of the Part IX of the Constitution, the provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996    and  Article  243  ZD  in  Part  IX  A  of  the  Constitution  relating  to  District  Planning Committees. Towards empowerment and  enablement of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) the Ministry inter alia devolves funds under Fourteenth Finance Commission (FFC). For the award period 2015-20, FFC grants to the tune of Rs.2,00,292.20 crore have been allocated to Gram Panchayats constituted under Part IX of the Constitution, amounting to an assistance of Rs.488 per capita  per  annum  at  an  aggregate  level  for  26  States.  The  Grants  provided  are intended to be used to support and strengthen the delivery of basic civic services, such aswater supply, sanitation including septage management, sewerage and solid waste management, storm water drainage, maintenance of community assets, maintenance of roads, footpaths and street lighting, and burial and cremation grounds, and any other basic service within  the  functions  assigned  to  them  under  relevant  legislations.  The  Ministry  is  also implementing Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan for Capacity Building of  PRIs. There is no proposal in Ministry of Panchayati Raj to support students from rural and backward areas.

Department of Social Justice and Empowerment have informed that the programme of the Department are not specific to backward/rural areas. The Department through its programmes and  schemes  strives  to  build  an  inclusive  society  wherein  students  of  the  underprivileged, marginalized  sections  are  provided  adequate  support  for  their  growth  and  development. Scholarship schemes at the pre-matric and post-matric levels aim for educational empowerment  of  Scheduled  Caste  (SCs),  Other  backward  Classes  (OBCs);  Economically backward Classes (EBCs) and Denotified and Nomadic Tribes (DNTs). Some of the other major  schemes  of  educational  empowerment  of  the  under  privileged  groups  include  (i) National  Fellowship  schemes  for  Scheduled  Caste/OBC  students  that  provide  financial assistance to the students from the marginalized sections to pursue research studies leading to M.  Phil.,  Ph.D.  and  equivalent  research  degree  in  universities,  research  institutions  and scientific  institutions;  (ii)  Top  Class  Education  Scheme  promoting  qualitative  education amongst  SC  students,  by  providing  full  financial  support  for  pursuing  studies  beyond  12 th Class; and (iii) the National Overseas Scholarship scheme that provides assistance to selected Scheduled Caste, Denotified and nomadic tribes, landless agriculture labours and traditional artisans' students for pursuing higher studies of Master Level courses and PhD programmers abroad in specified fields of study.

Further,  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  implements  following  scholarships  schemes  for Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in the country:-

- (i) Pre-Matric Scholarships for ST students (9 th & 10 th Std.)
- (ii) Post-Matric Scholarships for ST students (Class 11 th onwards)
- (iii) National Fellowship & Scholarship for Higher Education for ST students
- (iv) National Overseas Scholarship for ST students for studying abroad.

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