By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Bhopal: Five new schemes would be launched to benefit students of backward classes in Madhya Pradesh. These schemes include primary education, girls’ literacy incentive, construction of boys hostels at the district level and loan grants to Backward Classes and Minorities Finance Development Corporation.
At present, incentive money is given to the backward class students on their success in various stages of competitive examinations conducted by Union Public Service Commission and State Public Service Commission. Each student is given Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 15,000 respectively on clearing preliminaries of the above mentioned examinations, Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 25,000 respectively on passing the main examination and Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 10,000 respectively on selection after interview. Rs. 80 lakh has been allocated in the budget for the current year for this purpose against Rs 65 lakh earmarked in 2007-08.
Similarly, students belonging to economically weak families of backward classes have been included in the scholarship scheme for higher studies abroad. Five backward class students are benefited under this scheme every year. For this, Rs. 75 lakh has been earmarked in the budget this year. Unemployed educated girls and boys of backward classes are being imparted employment-oriented training in various trades. Rs. 350 per month stipend is given to each trainee apart from the facility of free lodging and meals. Under this head, Rs. two crore would be spent during the current year.
Loans are provided to Backward Classes and Minorities Finance Development Corporation to provide funds for self-employment to people belonging to backward classes for their economic, social and educational uplift. A provision of Rs. 50 lakh has been made by the state government with a view to providing share capital to the corporation this year. ([email protected])