Minority Scholarship surpasses target

For the second consecutive year  the Ministry of Minority Affairs has surpassed the target set by it under its Scheme of Post-Matric Scholarship for students belonging to the minority communities pursuing higher education from class XI up to Ph.D.
According to the latest data available, 4.2 lakh scholarships had been granted by that date and a total amount of Rs. 184.24 crore had been utilized under the scheme. During the last financial year, the number of total scholarships awarded was 3.87 lakh, which was also more than the target set.
The scheme is included under the Prime Minister's New 15-Point Programme for the welfare of minorities. Under the scheme the ministry had set a target of 4 lakh scholarships during the current financial year of 2010-11 which it has surpassed as on December 31, 2010.
The scheme  which also includes technical and vocational courses of Industrial Training Institutes / Industrial Training Centers (affiliated to NCVT) of class XI and XII level was launched in December, 2007.
This is a centrally sponsored scheme being implemented through state governments and union territory administrations with 100% funding by the central government. Students having not less than 50% marks in the previous final examination and whose parents'/guardians' income from all sources does not exceed Rs.2 lakhs are eligible for award of a post-matric scholarship.  It is proposed to award 15 lakh scholarships during the Eleventh Five Year Plan period ( 2007-12 ) with an outlay of Rs.1,150 crore. An amount of Rs. 265 crore has been allotted for the Scheme during 2010-11.