Lok Sabha Question No. 5091 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-04
Subject: Gross Enrolment Ratio of Minorities of Higher Education
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Kripanath Mallah

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 5091 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.04.2022

## Gross Enrolment Ratio of Minorities of Higher Education

## 5091. SHRI KRIPANATH MALLAH:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the Gross Enrolment Ratio of Higher Education within the country, Statewise including Assam especially in rural areas;
- (b) whether the Government has fixed any target in this regard;
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with its present status;
- (d) whether  greater  inclusion  of  minorities  in  higher  education  is  also  one  of  the  key objectives of the Government;
- (e) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  increase  their percentage in higher education in Assam so far;
- (f) the details of the target set and the achievements made so far;
- (g) whether the Government has planned to set up a Minority Women's College at Ratabari, Karimganj district of Assam with a view to move ahead towards its objectives; and
- (h) if so, the details thereof and the time by which it is likely to set up?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUBHAS SARKAR)

- (a) The State-wise Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in Higher Education including Assam is available at https://www.education.gov.in/en/parl\_ques.
- (b) &  (c)  As  per  All  India  Survey  on  Higher  Education  (AISHE)  2019-20,  the  Gross Enrolment ratio (GER) in Higher Education is 27.1. As per National Education Policy (NEP)  2020,  Government  has  fixed  the  target  to  achieve  50%  GER  by  2035.  To achieve the fixed target, Government has taken various steps which include issuing of new University Grants Commission regulation for Open and Distance Learning that allows entry of reputed institutions to offer education on the distance mode, using ICT mode through-  SWAYAM portal  to  reach  out  of  people  and  allow  them  to  secure good quality education, , hostel accommodation, establishment of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), teaching in local/Indian languages, Direct to Home(DTH) courses, encouraging  expansion  of  education  by  State  Governments  through  the  Rashtriya Uchchatar  Shiksha  Abhiyan  (RUSA),  more  scholarship  programmes  to  supplement the cost of education etc.
- (d) to (f) The enrolment of students from Minority communities has increased significantly  from  21,83,184,  as  per  AISHE  2014-15,  to  29,88,610   as  per  AISHE 2019-20,  (an  increase  of  36.9%).   The  National  Education  Policy  2020  is  also emphasizing  on  Equitable  and  Inclusive  Education  by  focusing  on  Socially  and Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs) which includes students from minorities communities also.

Government is encouraging Minority students through Scholarships/Fellowships Schemes of Ministry of Minority Affairs, such as 'Maulana Azad  National  Fellowship  for  Minority  Students  (MANF)'  to  provide  financial assistance to selected candidates belonging to Minority Communities viz. Buddhist,  Christian,  Jain, Muslim, Parsi, Sikh  for pursuing M.Phil/Ph.D research on full  time/regular  basis,  Merit-cum-Mean  based  Scholarship  Scheme  for  pursuing technical  and  professional  courses,  Padho  Pardesh-  Interest  Subsidy  on  educational loans  for  overseas  studies  and  Educational  Loan  Scheme  of  National  Minorities Development Finance Corporation (NMDFC).

- (g) &  (h) Under  the Scheme  Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha  Abhiyan  (RUSA)  of Government, grants are given to various State/UTs under various components. In this, State Government Universities and Colleges are funded to achieve the aims of equity, access and excellence. Under the Scheme, the below given institutions of Karimganj district of Assam are being supported under various components:

| District   | Name of Institution                            |
|------------|------------------------------------------------|
| Karimganj  | Govt. Model Degree College, Karimganj (South), |
| Karimganj  | Karimganj College                              |
| Karimganj  | N C College                                    |
| Karimganj  | R S Girls' College                             |

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