Lok Sabha Question No. 2452 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-01
Subject: Education of the Economically Backward Class
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: KIRTI (JHA) AZAD

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2452 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2016

## Education of the Economically Backward Class

## † 2452. SHRI KIRTI AZAD:

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

- (a) the  details  of  the  schemes  prepared  by  the  Government  for  the  educational development of the economically backward class in the country;
- (b) the amount allocated under the said schemes; and
- (c) the norms adopted for the utilization of the funds for such schemes?

## A N S W E R

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)

(a) to (c) : Details are annexed.

Annexure  referred  to  in  reply  to  parts  (a)  to  (c)  of  Lok  Sabha  Unstarred Question  No.2452  for  01.08.2016  regarding  Education  of  the  Economically Backward Class.

## Schemes for Economically Backward Class

(i) There is a Central Sector Scheme which provides for full Interest Subsidy for the period of moratorium 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  Education  Studies  in  India.    The  details  of  the  Scheme  are available  on  MHRD  website  www.mhrd.gov.in.    For  the  year  2016-17,  a  sum  of Rs.1,950 crore has been allocated for this Scheme.  Canara Bank is the nodal bank for implementing  the  scheme  and  also  for  ensuring  proper  utilisation  and  credit  to  the students loan account.

- (ii) There  is  a  Central  Sector  Scheme  of  Scholarship  for  College  and  University Students and a Special Scholarship Scheme for Jammu & Kashmir. The objective of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to meritorious students having annual family income  of  less  than  Rs.6  lakh.    The  details  of  the  Scheme  are  available  on www.scholarships.gov.in.    For  the  year  2016-17,  a  sum  of  Rs.270  crore  has  been allocated for this Scheme.
- (iii) The  Ministry  of  Social  Justice  and  Empowerment  has  stated  that  the  Dr. Ambedkar Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme of that Ministry, seeks to provide financial assistance  to  the  Economically  Backward  Class  (EBC)  students  studying  at  postmatriculation  stage  having  annual  family  income  of  Rs.1  lakh.    The  details  of  the scheme  are  available  on  www.socialjustice.nic.in.    For  the  year  2016-17,  a  sum  of Rs.10 crore has been allocated for this Scheme.
- (iv) The  Ministry  of  Social  Justice  and  Empowerment  has  further  stated  that  Dr. Ambedkar Scheme of Interest Subsidy on Educational Loans for Overseas Studies of the Ministry  awards interest  subsidy  to meritorious  Other  Backward Class (OBC) and EBC students so as to provide them better opportunities for higher education abroad. To be eligible under the Scheme, a student should come under the income ceiling of Rs.3 lakh per annum for OBCs and Rs.1 lakh for EBCs.  50% of the outlay every year is earmarked for girl students.    The   details   of   the   scheme  are  available   on www.socialjustice.nic.in.      For    the    year    2016-17,    a    sum  of  Rs.2  crore  has  been allocated for this scheme.
- (v) The  All  India  Council  for  Technical  Education  (AICTE)  scheme,  PRAGATI (Providing Assistance for Girls' Advancement in Technical Education Initiative) envisages selection of one girl per family where family income is less than 6 lakh per annum,  on  merit  at  the  qualifying  examination  to  pursue  technical  education.    The scholarship  amount is  Rs.30,000  or  tuition  fees  or  actual,  whichever  is  less,  and  Rs. 2,000 per month for ten months as incidentals each year.  The details of the Scheme are available on www.aicte-india.org.  For the year 2016-17, a sum of Rs.20 crore has been allocated for this scheme.  The amount is directly transferred to the bank account of the students under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

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