A meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment was held here today under the Chairmanship of Shri Thaawar Chand Gehlot, Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment to discuss the Scholarship for Scheduled Caste students. Shri Vijay Sampla, and Shri Krishan Pal Gurjar, Ministers of State for Social Justice & Empowerment were also present. Discussing the schemes in detail a power point presentation was made before the Member highlighting the important features of scholarship schemes.
The Minister informed the Members about the steps taken by the Ministry regarding Scholarship Schemes -Top Class Education for SC students, Free Coaching for SC & OBC students and National Overseas Scholarship.
He said the objectives of the schemes were to promote qualitative education, coaching of good quality for economically disadvantaged SC and OBCs students and provide financial assistance to selected students for pursuing higher studies for Master level courses and Ph.D abroad in the specified fields of study. The Minister further added that there are 212 of Top Class Institutions excellence including all IIMs, IITs, and NITs Commercial Pilot License training institutions and reputed Medical /Law and other institutes of excellence. SC student’s whose total family income is up to Rs. 4.5 lakh per annum are eligible for the scholarship. (Parental income ceiling has been raised from 2 lakh to 4.5 lakh from academic session 2012-13). Beside the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme for SC students has been revised by increasing the number of awards from 60 to 100 for SC candidate. The revised regulations will come into effect from the selection year 2014-15.
The Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment, Shri Thaawar Chand Gehlot asked the Members of the Consultative for their suggestions. The suggestion made most prominently was that there should be a review to access the impact of the various scholarship schemes on the beneficiary students in terms of the difference created in their lives as a result of the Scholarship provided.
Prior the discussion on the Agenda for the Meeting, the Action Taken Report on the minutes of previous meeting of Consultative Committee in December 2013 was discussed and the Minutes were approved.
Members of Parliament present in the meeting were: Shri Jaswant Singh Bhabhor (LS), Dr. Smt. Mamtaz Sanghamita (LS), Shri Om Birla (LS), Smt. M. Vasanthi (LS), Shri Vinod Chavda (LS), Shri Virender Kashyep (LS), Shri Ahamed Hassan (RS), Ms. Anu Age (RS), Dr. Bhalchandra Mungekar (RS), Smt. Jharna Das Baidya (RS) and Shri Praveen S. Rasthrapal (RS).