The Hindu : Front Page : Pre-matric scholarships for minorities

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Thursday, Jan 31, 2008
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Pre-matric scholarships for minorities

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: With the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Wednesday clearing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of pre-matric scholarships for students belonging to the minority communities, the three scholarships promised by the Government last year as a follow-up to the Sachar Committee Report are now in place. Though the Report focused on the social, economic and educational status of Muslims in the country, the three schemes are open to all those communities notified as minorities under Section 2 (c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.

As per the CCEA decision, funds to the tune of Rs. 1,868.50 crore will be available for the scheme during the XI Five Year Plan with the Centre bearing the lion’s share of the bill. While the Centre will provide Rs. 1,408.08 crore, the remaining Rs. 460.10 crore will be shared by the States. Union Territories (UTs) will be eligible for 100 per cent Central assistance. In all, 25 lakh scholarships will be provided during this Plan, beginning in the current fiscal itself.

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