Lok Sabha Question No. 339 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-18
Subject: Assistance for Higher Education
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 339 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2017

## Assistance for Higher Education

†339. SHRI SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH:

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

- (a)  whether  the  various  subordinate  departments  of  the  Government  particularly University  Grants  Commission  (UGC)  provide  assistance  to  women,  people  from weaker sections, differently abled and financially weaker sections for higher education;
- (b) if so, the details of such assistance schemes;
- (c) whether the UGC has reviewed such schemes being implemented in universities; and
- (d)  if  so,  the  features  of  such  schemes  and  the  effective  steps  taken  by  the Government so as to provide the benefit of such schemes to the beneficiaries?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (Dr. SATYA PAL SINGH)

- (a)  to  (d):  Yes,  Madam.  The  University  Grants  Commission  (UGC)  has  been implementing a number of schemes like (i) National Fellowship for Other Backward Classes (OBC) Candidates (ii)  National Fellowship for Higher Education of Schedule Tribe (ST) Students (iii) Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for SC Candidates (iv) PostDoctoral  Fellowship  for  SC/ST  Candidates  (v)  PG  Scholarship  for  Professional Courses for SC/ST Candidates (vi) Fellowships for Women Candidates for the welfare of  women,  people  from  weaker  sections,  differently  abled  and  financially  weaker sections for pursuing Higher Education.

The Women Candidates and Persons with Disability (PWD) (more than 40% disability)  are  allowed  a  relaxation  of  one  year  for  M.Phil  and  two  years  for  Ph.D  in maximum  duration  of  these  courses;  allowing  transfer  of  research  data  in  case  of relocation  of  an  M.Phil/Ph.D  woman  scholar  due  to  marriage  or  otherwise;  and allowing  women  candidates  maternity  leave/child-care  leave  once  in  the  entire duration of M.Phil./Ph.D for up to 240 days. Further, the UGC is implementing postdoctoral fellowship for women candidates (un-employed); Swami Vivekananda single girl child scholarship  for  research  in  social  sciences    and  PG  Indira  Gandhi Scholarship for single girl child for postgraduate courses to promote the enrolment of women at post- doctoral, doctoral and its feeder levels.

Further,  the  UGC  is  providing  funds  for  Remedial  Coaching  for  SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy  Layer)  and  Minority  Community  Students  with  a  view  to  (i)  improve academic skills and linguistic proficiency of the students in various subjects (ii) raise their  level  of  comprehension  of  basic  subjects  to  provide  a  stronger  foundation  for further academic work; and (iii) strengthen their knowledge, skills and attitudes in such subjects,  where  quantitative  and  qualitative  techniques  and  laboratory  activities  are involved  so  that  proper  guidance  and  training  provided  under  the  programme  may enable  the  students  to  come  up  to  the  level  necessary  for  pursuing  higher  studies efficiently.

It  has  also  been  informed  that  these  are  ongoing  schemes  in  which  the institution ensures proper implementation of the scheme and all payments are made by using Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into the bank accounts of beneficiaries. These payments are routed through Public Financial Management Scheme (PFMS), a robust system for ensuring transparency in the system.

Further, the Ministry of Human Resource Development has been operating a Central Sector Interest Subsidy Scheme, 2009 which provides full Interest Subsidy for the  period  of  moratorium  (course  period  +  1  year)  on  educational  loans  taken  by students from economically weaker sections with annual parental income up to Rs.4.5 lakh, from scheduled banks under the Educational Loan Scheme of the Indian Banks' Association  to  pursue  Technical/Professional  courses  in  India.    The  details  of  the scheme are available on MHRD website www.mhrd.gov.in

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