By IANS,
New Delhi : India Thursday approved two schemes worth Rs.22.6 billion to provide scholarship to needy meritorious students and help 520,000 disabled students to pursue education at the secondary level.
In the first scheme, the cabinet committee on economic affairs gave its approval for implementation of central sector scheme of scholarships for college and university students worth Rs.10 billion during the 11th Five Year Plan period.
“The scheme will help meritorious students belonging to poorer sections of the society to meet their day-to-day expenses while pursuing college/university education, who are not benefited by any other scholarship scheme,” said an official release.
As part of the second package, the committee gave its approval for introduction of a new centrally sponsored scheme of ‘Inclusive Education of the Disabled at Secondary Stage (IEDSS)’ at an expenditure of Rs.12.6 billion.
“All disabled children passing out of the Class VIII stage (middle school) in government, local body and government-aided schools will be identified for enrolment in the secondary stage (Class IX to XII),” the release added.
As part of this initiative an estimated 520,000 disabled children will be provided education during the 11th Plan period.