Pre-Matric Scheme & Scholarship Programme for OBC Students of Andaman & Nicobar

by Souporno Ghosh Student

Even after 51 years of independence and in spite of various measures taken to improve the level of education in the country, literacy levels among backward classes, particularly among women, continues to be extremely low. The number of steps has already been taken by the Government and considerable progress has been achieved in improving the level of literacy and education.

It is considered that a scheme of Pre-Matric Scholarship would be helpful in spreading education among such children especially among the girl child of weaker sections. A scheme of Pre-Matric Scholarship for the benefit of children belonging to Weaker Section among OBC’s has been formulated with the object in view.

Scope:-

OBCs living below double the poverty line form a bigger chunk of a population and there are disparities among OBCs themselves to start with, it is proposed to award scholarship to school-going children of poorer OBC parents whose annual income is below double the poverty line.

Eligibility:-

The Scholarship award will be sanctioned in the case of students whose parents/guardians income from all sources does not exceed Rs.2,50,000/- per annum.

Note 1:- So long as either of the parents (or husband in the case of Married unemployed girl student) are alive, the only income of the parents/husband, as the case may be, from all sources will be taken into account and of no other members even though they may be earning. In the form of income declaration, income will be declared on this basis. Only in the case where both the parents (or husband in the case of married but unemployed girl student) have died, the income of the guardian who is supporting the student in his/her studies will have to be taken into consideration. Such students whose parent's income is affected due to unfortunate death of one of earning parents and resultantly comes within the income ceiling prescribed under the scheme shall become eligible for the scholarship, subject to their fulfilling other conditions of eligibility, from the month in which such sad incidence has taken place. Applications for scholarships from such students can be considered even after the lapse of the last date of receipt of applications, on compassionate grounds.

Note 2: House Rent allowance received by the parents of a student shall be exempted from the computation of 'income' if the same has been permitted to be exempted for purpose of Income-Tax.

Note 3: Income Certificate is required to be taken once only, i.e. at the time of admission to courses, which are continuing for more than one year.

How to Apply:-

The concerned Department of the State Government/ Union Territory Administration will supply the application forms, which should be received back by the Department along with a prescribed certificate, by the last date.