Lok Sabha Question No. 349 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-05
Subject: Employment Information Cell
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: SRIRAM MALYADRI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 349 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5.2.2018

## EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION CELL

## 349. SHRI MALYADRI SRIRAM:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware about the issues and challenges before Higher Education Sector  in  the  country  particularly  problems  being  faced  by  the  Scheduled  Caste/Scheduled Tribe/Other Backward Castes (SC/ST/OBC) and Minority students in the country;
- (b) if so, whether the Government has taken steps/proposes to take steps to help such students prepare for gainful employment in the central/State services and also the details about the fund allocated for this purpose during the last three years and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to develop Employment Information Cell for providing information about various competitive examinations in Higher Educational Institutions in the area of their operation; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the steps being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): Yes Madam, the government is aware of the challenges/ issues confronting the Higher education Sector in the country, particularly the problems faced by the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe/Other Backward Castes (SC/ST/OBC) and Minority students. Various policy measures are in place to address the same.
- (b) to (d): As a measure to assist and prepare SC/ST/OBC (non creamy layer) and minority community students for gainful employment and contributing towards social equity & socioeconomic mobility of the under-privileged sections of society, the University Grants Commission  (UGC)  has  been  conducting  special  coaching  schemes  in  Universities  and Colleges. It implements coaching scheme under which coaching classes are held for entry in services for SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer) and Minorities Community Students to get useful employment in Group A, B or C Central services and State services or equivalent positions in the  private  sector.  UGC  has  sanctioned  Rs.  68.11  Crore  for  2360  Universities  and  Colleges during  the  XII  Plan  (2012-2017).  UGC  also  conducts  coaching  for  National  Eligibility  Test (NET)/State  Eligibility  Test  (SET)  for  SC/ST/OBC  (non-creamy  layer)  and  Minorities Community Students to prepare them for these tests, which are an essential eligibility condition for becoming a Lecturer in Universities & Colleges. UGC has sanctioned Rs. 23.48 Crore for 735 Universities and Colleges during the year XII Plan (2012-2017) under the activity.

With a view to prepare SC/ST students to gain employment in Central/State Services after completing their higher technical education, All India Council for Technical Education is implementing  Skill  and  Personality  Development  program  for  SC/ST  students.  A  sum  of Rs.  36.95  lakh  to  4  institutions  and  Rs.  3.17  crore  to  31  institutions  were  sanctioned  during 2016-17  and  2017-18 respectively  under  this  scheme.  AICTE  is  also  implementing  a  new scheme PRERNA, which provides financial support to institutes making efforts to train SC/ST students  for  GATE  etc.  Performance  in  GATE  is  an  important  criterion  for  public  sector employment.

Many Universities have employment information and guidance bureau/facility centres for  providing  information  about  various  competitive  examinations  in  the  area  of  their operation.

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