Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday requesting to increase the annual family income for post-matriculation and pre-matriculation scholarships for SC, ST and OBC students from R2.5 lakh to R8 lakh.
In his book, Mr. Stalin said that currently, the income eligibility for the scholarship for SC/ST/OBC students is ₹2.5 lakh but the Government of India has revised the income limit for the economically weaker section (EWS) to ₹. 8 lakh and increased the amount of income for schemes like National Overseas Scholarship and Top-Class Education Scheme to Rs 8 lakh for SC/ST students.
According to the report of All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE), the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) of students belonging to Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe and certain Backward communities is always lower than other students. “The realignment of the income gap has benefited many students from disadvantaged backgrounds.”
“There is a big difference in the GER of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students, compared to the general public. Therefore, it is important to facilitate their enrollment in large numbers in institutions of higher education,” argued the official release.
Providing post and pre-matric scholarships will go a long way in increasing their enrollment in higher education, he said. “In our view, raising the annual income of post-matriculation and pre-matriculation from R2.5 lakh to R8 lakh as compared to that of economically weaker sections is not only important but also fully justified and warranted.”
Mr. Stalin also sought the Prime Minister’s positive intervention in this matter to consider and increase the annual family income limit for post and pre-matriculation scholarships for SC/ST/OBC students from R2.5 lakh to R8 lakh initially.
Published – December 10, 2024 07:11 pm IST