By TCN News,
New Delhi: The Ministry of Minority Affairs has awarded 42,476 Merit-cum-means Scholarships during the last Financial Year 2011-12. Of these 32,723 scholarships went to students belonging to the Muslim community; 5,764 were awarded to the Christian students; 3,463 to Sikh students; 516 to Buddhist students and 10 to the students belonging to the Parsi community, said the ministry in a statement on Thursday.
For the 42,476 scholarships, the Ministry sanctioned Rs. 115.72 crore during 2011-12. For 2012-13 the budgetary provision for this Scheme has been increased to Rs. 220 crore and the physical target has also been increased to 80,000 scholarships.
The Scheme provides for earmarking 30% of the target for girls. During 2011-12 the percentage of girl students benefitting from Merit-cum-means Scholarship scheme was 36.82.
Merit-cum-means Scholarship scheme of the Ministry of Minority Affairs is meant for the students belonging to the Minority communities studying in technical and professional courses. This scheme was launched in 2007-08 and cumulatively 1,62,967 scholarships have been awarded till 31st March 2012.