Lok Sabha Question No. 1841 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-28
Subject: Scholarship and Hostel Facility for ST Students
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: BANSHILAL MAHTO

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.†1841

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28/11/2016

## SCHOLARSHIP AND HOSTEL FACILITY FOR ST STUDENTS

†1841. Dr. Banshilal Mahato:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of facilities being provided to the students belonging to Scheduled Tribes studying in foreign countries including scholarship and hostel facility;
- (b) the number of students who have availed the above facilities during each of the lastthree years and the current year, category and State/UT-wise including Chhattisgarh; and
- (c) the extent to which the said schemes have been successful in coverage of the eligible beneficiaries?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS ( SHRI JASWANTSINH  BHABHOR )

- (a) The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing the 'National Overseas Scheme' for ST Students under which the following facilities are provided:
- I. Annual Maintenance Allowance  A annual maintenance  allowance  in  US will be US Dollars 15,400 ($ Fifteen thousand four hundred only) for all level of courses covered under the Scheme. The annual maintenance allowance for candidates in United Kingdom will be Pound sterling 9,900 (£ Nine thousand nine hundred only)for all levels of courses covered under the scheme.
- II. Annual C ontingency  Allowance  A  annual  Contingency  allowance  for books/essential  apparatus/study  tour/typing  and  binding  of  thesis  etc.  will be US  Dollars  1512  ($  One  thousand  five  hundred  twelve  only) for  the candidates in US   and for candidates in  United  Kingdom, it will be Pounds sterling 1100 (£ One thousand one hundred only)
- III. Poll Tax Actual shall be paid, wherever applicable.
- IV. Visa Fees Actual visa fees in Indian Rupees will be paid.
- V. Equipment Allowance Equipment Allowance will be allowed @ Rs.1320/per annum
- VI. Incidental Journey Expenses Incidental journey expenses up to US Dollars 18.70   or its equivalent in Indian Rupees are permissible.
- VII. Fees Tuition fees as per actual will be admissible.
- VIII. Medical Insurance Premium Actual as charged will be admissible.
- IX. Cost  of  Air  Passage  Air  passage  grant  on  actual  basis  from  India  to  the nearest  place  to  the  educational  institution  and  back  to  India,  by  economy class  and  shortest  route  in  arrangements  with  the  national  carrier,  shall  be provided.
- X. Local  Travel  Second  or  Coach  class  railway  fare  from  the  port  of disembarkation to the place of study and back and in case of far flung places not  connected by rail,  bus  fare(s)  from  the  place  of  residence  to  the  nearest railway station, actual charge of crossing by ferry, air fare to the nearest railcum-air Station and/or II class railway fare by the shortest route to the port of embarkation and back will be permissible.
- XI. All the awardees already undergoing studies abroad would also be eligible to receive the revised rates as approved in the scheme and its modified form with prospective effect.
- XII. Training for Selected Candidates The finally  selected  candidates  will  be supported for getting Coaching for TOEFL/GRE/GMAT.
- XIII. Earnings  from  Research/Teaching  Assistanceship  The  awardees  are permitted to supplement their prescribed allowances by undertaking Research/Teaching  Assistantship  up  to  US  Dollars  2400  per  annum  and  for awardees in United Kingdom, Pounds sterling 1560 per annum. Where income earned is beyond these prescribed ceilings, the maintenance allowance under the scheme shall be correspondingly reduced by the Indian Missions abroad.
- XIV. Passage  Grants  For  selected  candidates,  air  passage  to  the  destination abroad  and  back  to  India,  will  be  provided  by  economy  class  and  shortest route through arrangement with the national carrier. The prospective candidates  may  contact  this  Ministry  for  obtaining  the  application  form  for applying for the passage grant.
- (b)& (c) The scheme of National Overseas Scholarship for ST Students is implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs through the Ministry of External Affairs. There is no state wise allocation of funds under this Scheme. However, year-wise details of funds sanctioned and  the  number  of  candidates  selected  under  the  scheme  for  the  years  2013-14,  2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17 are as under:

## Grants-in-aid released under the Scheme of National Overseas Scholarship for ST Candidates from 2010-11 to 2015-16

|   Sl. No. | Year    | Amount Released ( ₹ in lakh)        | No. of Selected candidates   |
|-----------|---------|-------------------------------------|------------------------------|
|         1 | 2013-14 | 68.00                               | 9                            |
|         2 | 2014-15 | 99.13                               | 21                           |
|         3 | 2015-16 | 39.03 (for earlier selection years) | Selection under process      |
|         4 | 2016-17 | 0.00                                | Selection under process      |

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