Lok Sabha Question No. 3681 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-11
Subject: SPARSH Yojana
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Raja Amareshwara Naik, Vinod Kumar Sonkar, Sukanta Majumdar, Bhola Singh, Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo

- (a) Yes Sir.
- (b) The Department of Posts launched Deen Dayal SPARSH (Scholarship for Promotion of Aptitude & Research in Stamps as a Hobby) Yojana on 3rd Nov, 2017. The main objective of the scheme is promotion of philately among children at a young age. Each of the 23 Postal Circles awards maximum 40 scholarships to 10 students each from classes VI, VII, VIII & IX.  As such, 920 scholarships are awarded to students across India under the Yojana. The amount of scholarship is Rs. 6000/- per annum.
- (c) Yes Sir. A two-level selection process is adopted. At the 1st level, a written test is conducted which is a screening test. Students selected at the first level have to submit a Philately Project for selection at the 2nd level. For this purpose, Circles issue communication to the selected candidates informing them of the list of topics and broad guidelines for the project. The final selection is done on the basis of the marks secured in Philately  Project.  The  evaluation  of  the  project  is  done  by  a  committee  constituted  at  Circle  level  and

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF POSTS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3681 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 TH   DECEMBER, 2019

## SPARSH YOJANA

3681.   SHRI RAJA AMRESHWARA NAIK: SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR: DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR: SHRI BHOLA SINGH: SHRIMATI SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  implementing  Deen  Dayal  Scholarship  for  Promotion  of  Aptitude  and Research in Stamps as a Hobby (SPARSH) yojana for students;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the scholarship thereunder will be awarded on the basis of philately quiz and philately project and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the status of implementation of the said scheme since its incpetion along with the funds sanctioned and spent by the Government so far, State/UT-wise; and
- (e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government for promotion of philately in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS, HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

40 students (10 each from classes VI, VII, VIII & IX) are selected for the award of the scholarships by each Circle.

(d) The SPARSH Yojana has been successfully implemented for the year 2017-18 & 2018-19 and is in progress  for  the  year  2019-20.  The  number  of  students  selected  in  the  first  two  editions  is  enclosed  at Annexure  I. Funds  to  the  tune  of  Rs.  55.20  lakh  are  to  be  utilised  by  the  Postal  Circles  for  awarding  the scholarships in a year. Funds actually utilised by the Postal Circles under Deen Dayal SPARSH Yojana for the years 2017-18 & 2018-19 are enclosed at Annexure I.

(e) Several initiatives have been taken by the Department of Posts for promotion of Philately. Details are as follows:

i) Launch  of  scholarship  scheme  Deen  Dayal  SPARSH  YojanaAs  detailed  in  parts  (a)  to  (d) above.

ii) Launch  of  an  annual  nationwide  letter  writing  competition  'Dhai  Akhar' -  A  nationwide annual letter writing competition 'Dhai Akhar' was launched in 2017-18 to encourage and promote letter writing. 12 prizes are given at the national level and 276 at Circle level. This year Dhai Akhar letter Writing Campaign is launched on the theme 'Dear Bapu, you are immortal'. The competition is underway as of now.

iii) Organization  of  Philatelic  Seminars -  23  Postal  Circles  across  the  country  organize  philatelic seminars around the year to promote and spread awareness about Philately. These seminars especially focus on participation of school children.

iv) Organization of Philatelic Exhibitions -Philatelic Exhibitions are organized by Postal Circles to promote  Philately.  These  exhibitions  provide  a  platform  to  showcase  the  stamp  collections  of philatelists and help to initiate newcomers to philately.

v) Opening of School Philatelic Clubs - Special emphasis is given on opening of School Philatelic Clubs to promote philately at the grassroots.

vi) Crowd-sourcing  of  Stamp  designs -  Stamp  Design  Competitions  are  being  organised  by  the Department of Posts on 'people- centric themes' from time to time to engage the people and spread awareness about postage stamps.

(ANNEXURE I)

| Sl. No.   | Postal Circle   | State/UTs                   | 2017-18                     | 2017-18                            | 2017-18                       | 2018-19                     | 2018-19                            | 2018-19                       |
|-----------|-----------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|------------------------------------|-------------------------------|-----------------------------|------------------------------------|-------------------------------|
| Sl. No.   | Postal Circle   | State/UTs                   | Students selected (in no.s) | Funds Sanctioned (in thousand Rs.) | Funds spent (in thousand Rs.) | Students selected (in no.s) | Funds Sanctioned (in thousand Rs.) | Funds spent (in thousand Rs.) |
| 1.        | Assam           |                             | 16                          | 240                                | 96                            | 40                          | 240                                | 240                           |
| 2.        | Andhra Pradesh  |                             | 40                          | 240                                | 240                           | 40                          | 240                                | 240                           |
| 3.        | Bihar           |                             | 40                          | 240                                | 240                           | 40                          | 240                                | 240                           |
| 4.        | Chhattisgarh    |                             | 40                          | 240                                | 240                           | 40                          | 240                                | 240                           |
| 5.        | Delhi           | (UT)                        | 40                          | 240                                | 240                           | 40                          | 240                                | 240                           |
| 6.        | Gujarat         | Gujarat                     | 40                          | 240                                | 240                           | 40                          | 240                                | 240                           |
| 7.        | Gujarat         | Daman and Diu (UT)          | 0                           |                                    | 0                             | 0                           |                                    | 0                             |
| 8.        | Gujarat         | Dadar and Nagar Haveli (UT) | 0                           |                                    | 0                             | 0                           |                                    | 0                             |
| 9.        | Haryana         |                             | 40                          | 240                                | 240                           | 40                          | 240                                | 240                           |
| 10.       | HP              |                             | 40                          | 240                                | 240                           | 40                          | 240                                | 240                           |
| 11.       | J&K             |                             | 0 (*)                       | 240                                | 0                             | 40                          | 240                                | 240                           |
| 12.       | Jharkhand       |                             | 40                          | 240                                | 240                           | 40                          | 240                                | 240                           |
| 13.       | Karnataka       |                             | 40                          | 240                                | 240                           | 40                          | 240                                | 240                           |
| 14.       | Kerala          | Kerala                      | 40                          | 240                                | 240                           | 41 (**)                     | 240                                | 246                           |
| 15.       | Kerala          | Lakshadweep (UT)            | 0                           |                                    | 0                             | 0                           |                                    | 0                             |
| 16.       | Madhya Pradesh  |                             | 40                          | 240                                | 240                           | 40                          | 240                                | 240                           |
| 17.       | Maharashtra     | Maharashtra                 | 37                          | 240                                | 222                           | 40                          | 240                                | 240                           |
| 18.       |                 | Goa                         | 03                          |                                    | 18                            | 0                           |                                    | 0                             |
| 19.       |                 | Arunachal Pradesh           | 01                          | 240                                | 6                             | 0                           | 240                                | 0                             |
| 20.       |                 | Manipur                     | 13                          |                                    | 78                            | 26                          |                                    | 156                           |
| 21.       |                 | Meghalaya                   | 03                          |                                    | 18                            | 04                          |                                    | 24                            |
| 22.       | North East      | Mizoram                     | 0                           |                                    | 0                             | 03                          |                                    | 18                            |
| 23.       |                 | Nagaland                    | 07                          |                                    | 42                            | 0                           |                                    | 0                             |
| 24.       |                 | Tripura                     | 05                          |                                    | 30                            | 07                          |                                    | 42                            |

| Sl No.   | Postal Circle   | State/UTs                | 2017-18                     | 2017-18                            | 2017-18                       | 2018-19                     | 2018-19                            | 2018-19                       |
|----------|-----------------|--------------------------|-----------------------------|------------------------------------|-------------------------------|-----------------------------|------------------------------------|-------------------------------|
| Sl No.   | Postal Circle   | State/UTs                | Students selected (in no.s) | Funds Sanctioned (in thousand Rs.) | Funds spent (in thousand Rs.) | Students selected (in no.s) | Funds Sanctioned (in thousand Rs.) | Funds spent (in thousand Rs.) |
| 25.      | Odisha          |                          | 40                          | 240                                | 240                           | 40                          | 240                                | 240                           |
| 26.      | Punjab          | Punjab State             | 35                          | 240                                | 210                           | 29                          | 240                                | 174                           |
| 27.      | Punjab          | Chandigarh (UT)          | 05                          | 240                                | 30                            | 11                          | 240                                | 66                            |
| 28.      | Rajasthan       |                          | 40                          | 240                                | 240                           | 40                          | 240                                | 240                           |
| 29.      | Tamil Nadu      | Tamil Nadu               | 38                          | 240                                | 228                           | 34                          | 240                                | 204                           |
| 30.      | Tamil Nadu      | Pondicherry (UT)         | 02                          | 240                                | 12                            | 06                          | 240                                | 36                            |
| 31.      | Telangana       |                          | 40                          | 240                                | 240                           | 40                          | 240                                | 240                           |
| 32.      | Uttar Pradesh   |                          | 40                          | 240                                | 240                           | 35                          | 240                                | 210                           |
| 33.      | Uttarakhand     |                          | 36                          | 240                                | 216                           | 40                          | 240                                | 240                           |
| 34.      | West Bengal     | West Bengal              | 40                          | 240                                | 240                           | 37                          | 240                                | 222                           |
| 35.      | West Bengal     | Andaman and Nicobar (UT) | 0                           | 240                                | 0                             | 03                          | 240                                | 18                            |
| 36.      | West Bengal     | Sikkim                   | 0                           | 240                                | 0                             | 0                           | 240                                | 0                             |
| TOTAL    | TOTAL           |                          | 841                         | 5520                               | 5046                          | 916                         | 5520                               | 5496                          |

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