The Post Matric Scholarship Scheme is a centrally sponsored scheme for SC students with annual parental income below Rs. 2.5 lakh. The objective of the scheme is to appreciably increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio of SC students in higher education by providing financial assistance to the SC students.
The Scholarship includes the following components for the complete duration of the course:-
i. Compulsory non-refundable fees including tuition fee of the course
ii. Academic allowance
iii. Disability allowance (10% extra allowance for divyang students)
There is a 60:40 sharing ratio of expenditure between the Centre and States (90:10 in case of North Eastern States). As per the provisions of the Scheme, the entire scholarship amount - both from the State and Central Government - is paid directly into the account of the students only through Direct Beneficiaries Transfer (DBT).
The numbers of Scheduled Caste students enrolled under this Scheme in Tamil Nadu in the last 3 years and current year, as reported by the State Government, are as follows:
|
S. No.
|
FY
|
Enrolled Beneficiaries
|
|
1.
|
2018-19
|
761114
|
|
2.
|
2019-20
|
611434
|
|
3.
|
2020-21
|
825000
|
|
4.
|
2021-22
|
719984*
|
|
Total
|
2917532*
|
*For FY2021-22, the number of enrolled beneficiaries are as anticipated (as per State Governments proposal).
There is no system of State-wise allocation of funds under the scheme. The details of the funds sanctioned to the State Govt. of Tamil Nadu under the Scheme, and utilization as reported by the State Government, for the last three years are as follows:
|
FY
|
Sanctioned Amount (in Rs.Cr.)
|
Utilized Amount (in Rs. Cr.)
|
|
2018-19
|
1407.38
|
1407.38
|
|
2019-20
|
925.84
|
808.44
|
|
2020-21
|
120.23
|
As per the latest scheme guidelines, the disbursal of the Central share of the scholarships has to be made directly into the bank account of the students through DBT, based on verified data of students sent by the State Government on the Central Portal. For FY 2021-22, an amount of Rs. 769.53/- cr. has been approved by the Project Appraisal Committee for disbursal to the students of Tamil Nadu.
This being a Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented through State Governments, the State Governments are the primary interaction/grievance redressal points in case of non-receipt of payments by beneficiaries. Instances of delayed disbursal of scholarships have been reported from some States in the last few years.
The latest guidelines of the Scheme, effective from March 2021, have made a number of provisions to ensure that the students receive the due scholarships in time. These provisions include, inter alia, substantial increase in the Central share of expenditure by changing the funding pattern thus reducing the financial burden on the States; end-to-end online systems for calling and processing of applications; fixed timelines for opening/closing of portals and disbursal of State and Central shares of scholarships; direct disbursal of the Central share to the students' accounts through DBT, etc..
This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, Shri A. Narayanaswamy in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
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MG/RNM