Lok Sabha Question No. 228 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-18
Subject: Scholarship to ST Student in Assam
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Pallab Lochan Das

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-228 TO BE ANSWERED ON- 18/07/2022

## SCHOLARSHIP TO ST STUDENT IN ASSAM

228. SHRI PALLAB LOCHAN DAS:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

- (a) the  details  of  the  scholarship  and  educational  schemes  for  the  welfare  of  students  belonging  to Scheduled Tribes in Assam;
- (b) the district wise details of the current beneficiaries in Assam;
- (c) whether the Government also plans to extend the scope of similar schemes to more North-Eastern States;
- (d) if so, the details of the expected implementation timeline; and
- (e) the  other  policy/  measures  taken by  the  Government for  students  hailing  from  the  North-Eastern states including the financial assistance provided by the Government?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU)

- (a) : Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing following scholarship and educational schemes for the welfare of ST students in the country:
- i. Pre-Matric Scholarship for ST students: It is a Centrally Sponsored Scholarship Scheme applicable  to  students  who  are  studying  in  Classes  IX  -  X.  Parental  income  from  all sources should be less than Rs.2.50 lakhs per annum. Scholarships are paid @ Rs.225/- per month  for  Day  Scholars  and  @  Rs.525/-  per  month  for  Hostellers,  for  a  period  of  10 months in a year. Scholarship is disbursed through the State Government/UT Administration.  Funds  shared  at  the  ratio  of  75:25  between  the  Centre  and  State Governments/UT  Administrations and 90:10 for NE and  Specially  Category States/UTs (UT of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand) from 2014-15 onwards and for UT without legislature 100% Share is released by Centre.
- ii. Post-Matric Scholarship for ST students: It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme applicable to  students  who are studying  in any recognized course from a recognized institution for which  qualification  is  Matriculation/Class  X  or  above.Parental  income  from  all  sources should  be  less  than  Rs.2.50  lakhs  per  annum.  Compulsory  fees  charged  by  educational institutions are reimbursed subject to the limit fixed by the concerned State Fee fixation committee and scholarship amount of Rs.230 to Rs.1200 per month, depending upon the course  of  study  is  paid.  Scholarship  is  distributed  through  the  State  Government/UT Administration.  Funds  shared  at  the  ratio  of  75:25  between  the  Centre  and  State Governments/UT  Administrations and 90:10 for NE and  Specially  Category States/UTs

(UT of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand) from 2014-15 onwards and for UT without legislature 100% Share is released by Centre.

- iii. National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education to ST students:
- a. SCHOLARSHIP  FOR  HIGHER  EDUCATION  (earlier  known  as  Top  Class Education For St Students):Scholarship is given to ST students for pursuing studies in prescribed courses in any of the 246 institutions of excellence across the country like IITs,  AIIMS,  IIMs,  NIITs,  etc.  identified  by  the  Ministry.  Priority  is  given  to  girls. Total number of scholarships is 1000 per year. Family income from all sources should not exceed Rs.6.00 lakhs per annum. Scholarship amount includes tuition fees, living expenses and allowances for books and computer.
- b. National  Fellowship:750  fellowships  are  provided  to  ST  students  each  year  for pursing higher studies in India for MPhil and PhD.  Fellowship is granted as per UGC norms.  Presently,  @  Rs.25,000/-  for  JRF  and  @Rs.28,000/-  for  SRF(subject  to revision). Contingency for M.Phil  in Humanities and Social Science is provided @ Rs. 10000/- per annum and for Ph.D in Humanities and Social Science is provided @Rs. 20500/- per annum. Contingency for M.Phil  in Science, Engineering Technology  is provided @  Rs.12000/-  per  annum  for  and  for Ph.D  in Science, Engineering Technology  is provided @ 25000/- per annum. Escorts/Reader assistance @ Rs. 2000/per month is provided in case of physically and visually handicapped candidates.HRA as per rules of University/Institution / Colleges.
- iv. National  Overseas  Scholarship  for  ST  students: The  Scheme  provides  for  financial assistance to selected students to pursue Post Graduation, PhD & Post-Doctoral study abroad. A total of 20 awards are given every year. Of these, 17 awards are for STs and 3 awards for students belonging to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). Parental/family income from all  sources  should  not  exceed  Rs.6.00  lakhs  per  annum.  Disbursement  of  scholarships through the Ministry of External Affairs/ Indian Missions abroad. Tuition fee, Visa fee, Poll Tax, Medical insurance premium and travel expenses to the educational institution and back to India  are  provided  as  per  actual.  In  addition  Annual  Maintenance  Allowance,  Annual Contingency and Equipment allowance is also provided. The amount of Annual Maintenance Allowance is @$15,400/- in USA and @ £ 9,900 in United Kingdom. For other countries US dollar equivalent rates are applicable.
- v. Grant-in-Aid to Voluntary Organizations working for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes: Under  this  scheme  grants  are  provided  to  NGOs  working  in  health  and  education  sectors. Details of beneficiaries is attached.
- vi. Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution: It  is  a  100%  grant  from  Government  of India. Funding under this programme is to enable the States to meet the cost of such schemes of  development as may be undertaken by the State for the purpose of promoting welfare of Scheduled Tribes in that State or raising the level of administration of Scheduled Areas therein to that of the administration of the rest of the areas of that State. Fund is released under the scheme for various activities including Education.
- vii. Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS): EMRS was introduced in the year 1997-98 to provide quality education to Scheduled Tribes (ST) students (Class 6th to 12th) in remote areas to enable them to access the best opportunities in education and to bring them at par with the general  population.  Fund  is  released  to  National  Education  Society  for  Tribal  Students (NESTS), an autonomous society under the Ministry to manage and implement the scheme of EMRS.  NESTS  further  releases  funds  to  States/  UTs/  PSUs/  construction  agencies/  State

societies  for  construction  of  EMRSs  and  recurring  cost  for  running  of  the  schools.  As  on 14.07.2022,  a  total  number  of  684  EMRSs  have  been  sanctioned  across  the  country  out  of which 378 have been reported to be functional.

- viii. Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Scheme (SCA to TSS): Grants are released to 26 States,  having  ST  population  for  development  and  welfare  of  tribal  people  under  this programme.  Funds  are  released  to  States  based  upon  proposals  received  from  the  State Governments, and considered in the Project Appraisal Committee (PAC), to bridge the gaps in various sectors including education. From 2021-22 onwards, this scheme has been re-designed as Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAAGY).

(b): the district wise details of the current beneficiaries in Assam under these schemes is enclosed as Annexure-I .

(c) to (e): All the above-mentioned schemes are implemented on pan India basis, including Assam and other  North  Eastern  States.  Under  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  of Pre-Matric  and  Post-Matric Scholarship the funds shared at  the ratio  of  90:10  between the Centre and NE States and Specially Category  States/UTs  (UT  of  Jammu  &  Kashmir,  Himachal  Pradesh  and  Uttarakhand)  whereas  for other States the fund sharing pattern is 75:25.

Further, Ministry has set the target to set up a total number of 154 EMRSs in 8 North-Eastern States. As on date, Ministry has already sanctioned 133 EMRSs, including that of Assam, out of which 24 are reported to be functional.

The district wise details of beneficiaries in Assam is as below: -

## Pre-Matric Scholarship

| Assam Beneficiaries for FY-2020-21   | Assam Beneficiaries for FY-2020-21   | Assam Beneficiaries for FY-2020-21   |
|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
| Sr. No.                              | District Name                        | Total Records                        |
| 1                                    | BAKSA                                | 129                                  |
| 2                                    | KOKRAJHAR                            | 375                                  |
| 3                                    | SIVASAGAR                            | 6                                    |
| 4                                    | BONGAIGAON                           | 1                                    |
| 5                                    | CHIRANG                              | 179                                  |
| 6                                    | BARPETA                              | 1                                    |
| 7                                    | GOLAGHAT                             | 124                                  |
| 8                                    | JORHAT                               | 44                                   |
| 9                                    | KAMRUP                               | 145                                  |
| 10                                   | KARBI ANGLONG                        | 74                                   |
| 11                                   | SONITPUR                             | 35                                   |
| 12                                   | DHEMAJI                              | 1715                                 |
| 13                                   | LAKHIMPUR                            | 149                                  |
| 14                                   | UDALGURI                             | 34                                   |
| 15                                   | Biswanath                            | 1                                    |
| 16                                   | GOALPARA                             | 11                                   |
| 17                                   | NALBARI                              | 9                                    |
| 18                                   | DIBRUGARH                            | 1                                    |
| 19                                   | DIMA HASAO                           | 5                                    |
| 20                                   | MAJULI                               | 1                                    |
|                                      | Total                                | 3039                                 |

Note:- The details of beneficiaries for 2021-22 not reported by States/UTs.

Post-Matric Scholarship

| Assam Beneficiaries for FY-2020-21   | Assam Beneficiaries for FY-2020-21   | Assam Beneficiaries for FY-2020-21   |
|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
| Sr. No.                              | District Name                        | Total Records                        |
| 1                                    | BAKSA                                | 8351                                 |
| 2                                    | CACHAR                               | 14                                   |
| 3                                    | CHARAIDEO                            | 22                                   |
| 4                                    | KAMRUP METRO                         | 748                                  |
| 5                                    | KOKRAJHAR                            | 8589                                 |
| 6                                    | SIVASAGAR                            | 207                                  |
| 7                                    | DHEMAJI                              | 9893                                 |
| 8                                    | LAKHIMPUR                            | 4353                                 |
| 9                                    | UDALGURI                             | 8046                                 |
| 10                                   | BONGAIGAON                           | 130                                  |
| 11                                   | CHIRANG                              | 3949                                 |
| 12                                   | GOLAGHAT                             | 1001                                 |
| 13                                   | HOJAI                                | 21                                   |
| 14                                   | KARIMGANJ                            | 7                                    |
| 15                                   | MARIGAON                             | 478                                  |
| 16                                   | BARPETA                              | 263                                  |
| 17                                   | HAILAKANDI                           | 8                                    |
| 18                                   | TINSUKIA                             | 385                                  |
| 19                                   | WEST KARBI ANGLONG                   | 141                                  |
| 20                                   | DARRANG                              | 93                                   |
| 21                                   | DHUBRI                               | 19                                   |
| 22                                   | DIBRUGARH                            | 549                                  |
| 23                                   | DIMA HASAO                           | 388                                  |
| 24                                   | MAJULI                               | 520                                  |
| 25                                   | JORHAT                               | 1103                                 |
| 26                                   | KAMRUP                               | 1280                                 |
| 27                                   | KARBI ANGLONG                        | 1740                                 |
| 28                                   | NAGAON                               | 304                                  |
| 29                                   | SONITPUR                             | 1138                                 |
| 30                                   | Biswanath                            | 354                                  |
| 31                                   | GOALPARA                             | 1187                                 |
| 32                                   | NALBARI                              | 196                                  |
|                                      | Total                                | 55477                                |

Note:- The details of beneficiaries for 2021-22 not reported by States/UTs.

## National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education

## (a) National Fellowship

| ASSAM DOMICILE BENEFICIARIES IN F.Y. 2021-22   | ASSAM DOMICILE BENEFICIARIES IN F.Y. 2021-22   | ASSAM DOMICILE BENEFICIARIES IN F.Y. 2021-22   |
|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| Sl no                                          | District                                       | No. of students                                |
| 1                                              | BAKSA                                          | 8                                              |
| 2                                              | BARPETA                                        | 2                                              |
| 3                                              | Biswanath                                      | 1                                              |
| 4                                              | CACHAR                                         | 2                                              |
| 5                                              | CHIRANG                                        | 13                                             |
| 6                                              | DARRANG                                        | 3                                              |
| 7                                              | DHEMAJI                                        | 7                                              |
| 8                                              | DIBRUGARH                                      | 5                                              |
| 9                                              | DIMA HASAO                                     | 4                                              |
| 10                                             | GOALPARA                                       | 5                                              |
| 11                                             | GOLAGHAT                                       | 4                                              |
| 12                                             | JORHAT                                         | 7                                              |
| 13                                             | KAMRUP                                         | 5                                              |
| 14                                             | KAMRUP METRO                                   | 6                                              |
| 15                                             | KARBI ANGLONG                                  | 13                                             |
| 16                                             | KARIMGANJ                                      | 2                                              |
| 17                                             | KOKRAJHAR                                      | 31                                             |
| 18                                             | LAKHIMPUR                                      | 8                                              |
| 19                                             | MARIGAON                                       | 2                                              |
| 20                                             | NAGAON                                         | 6                                              |
| 21                                             | NALBARI                                        | 2                                              |
| 22                                             | SIVASAGAR                                      | 1                                              |
| 23                                             | SONITPUR                                       | 7                                              |
| 24                                             | TINSUKIA                                       | 1                                              |
| 25                                             | UDALGURI                                       | 17                                             |
|                                                | Grand Total                                    | 162                                            |

## (b) National Scholarship (Top Class Scholarship)

| ASSAM DOMICILE BENEFICIARIES IN F.Y. 2021-22   | ASSAM DOMICILE BENEFICIARIES IN F.Y. 2021-22   | ASSAM DOMICILE BENEFICIARIES IN F.Y. 2021-22   |
|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| S. No.                                         | Name of District                               | Number of students                             |
| 1                                              | BAKSA                                          | 7                                              |
| 2                                              | BARPETA                                        | 1                                              |
| 3                                              | Biswanath                                      | 1                                              |
| 4                                              | CACHAR                                         | 2                                              |
| 5                                              | CHIRANG                                        | 5                                              |

| ASSAM DOMICILE BENEFICIARIES IN F.Y. 2021-22   | ASSAM DOMICILE BENEFICIARIES IN F.Y. 2021-22   | ASSAM DOMICILE BENEFICIARIES IN F.Y. 2021-22   |
|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| S. No.                                         | Name of District                               | Number of students                             |
| 6                                              | DHEMAJI                                        | 7                                              |
| 7                                              | DIBRUGARH                                      | 10                                             |
| 8                                              | DIMA HASAO                                     | 2                                              |
| 9                                              | GOALPARA                                       | 3                                              |
| 10                                             | GOLAGHAT                                       | 1                                              |
| 11                                             | HOJAI                                          | 1                                              |
| 12                                             | JORHAT                                         | 2                                              |
| 13                                             | KAMRUP METRO                                   | 5                                              |
| 14                                             | KARBI ANGLONG                                  | 2                                              |
| 15                                             | KOKRAJHAR                                      | 8                                              |
| 16                                             | LAKHIMPUR                                      | 4                                              |
| 17                                             | MAJULI                                         | 1                                              |
| 18                                             | NAGAON                                         | 2                                              |
| 19                                             | NALBARI                                        | 1                                              |
| 20                                             | SIVASAGAR                                      | 3                                              |
| 21                                             | SONITPUR                                       | 1                                              |
| 22                                             | TINSUKIA                                       | 2                                              |
| 23                                             | UDALGURI                                       | 6                                              |
| 24                                             | WEST KARBI ANGLONG                             | 4                                              |
|                                                | Grand Total                                    | 81                                             |

National Overseas Scholarship

## Beneficiary of Domicile state of Assam, paid in FY 2021-22 for NOS Scheme:

| District Name   |   No. of Beneficiary |
|-----------------|----------------------|
| SONITPUR        |                    1 |
| Lakhimpur       |                    1 |
| Dhemaji         |                    1 |
| KOKRAJHAR       |                    1 |
| Chirang         |                    1 |
| DIMA HASAO      |                    1 |
| Total           |                    6 |

## Grant-in-Aid to Voluntary Organizations working for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes

| Sl. No.   | District Name       |   Number of beneficiaries |
|-----------|---------------------|---------------------------|
| 1         | Cachar              |                       164 |
| 2         | Kamrup Metropolitan |                        32 |
| 3         | Karbi Anglong       |                       221 |
| 4         | Nagaon              |                       101 |
| Total     | Total               |                       518 |

## Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS)

As on date, there is one EMRS functional at Dalbari, Baksa in Assam. Enrollment in thisschool for the current year, i.e. 2021-22, is 480 students.

## Schemes of Article 275(1), and SCA to TSS

Beneficiary details under Article 275(1) and SCA to TSS are maintained at State level. *****