Revised scholarship scheme for SC students will ensure greater educational access: PM Modi

Centre on Wednesday anunced changes in centrally sponsored post-matric scholarship scheme for Scheduled Caste students. Cabinet Committee on Ecomic Affairs (CCEA) approved changes in scheme which is said to benefit more than four crore Scheduled Caste students in next five years and approved a total investment of over Rs 59,000 crore for purpose. 

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking to Twitter hailed Cabinet's decision. 

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'Poorest Students would be brought back into education system' 

government aims to bring Scheduled Caste students who dropped out due to financial challenges back into education system as scheme allows students to pursue any course from class 11, with government providing for cost of education.

“A campaign will be launched to enroll students, from poorest households passing 10th standard, in higher education courses of ir choice. It is estimated that 1.36 crore such poorest students, who are currently t continuing ir education beyond 10th standards, would be brought into higher education system in next 5 years,” statement said.

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“ scheme will be run on an online platform with robust cybersecurity measures that would assure transparency, accountability, efficiency, and timely delivery of assistance without any delay. states will undertake fool-proof verification of eligibility, caste status, Aadhaar identification, and bank account details on online portal,” it added.

Out of total investment of Rs 59,048 crore approved by Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 60 per cent, which amounts to Rs 35,534, would be spent by Centre and rest by state government. “This replaces existing ‘committed liability’ system and brings greater involvement of Central government in this crucial scheme. focus of scheme would be on enrolling poorest students, timely payments, comprehensive accountability, continuous monitoring, and total transparency,” an official statement said.

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(With PTI Inputs)