By IANS,
New Delhi : A total 5,50,589 students from the Muslim community were given scholarships in Maharashtra, while 4,43,412 girls from the minority communities were extended financial aid in the state, the Lok Sabha was informed Thursday.
“The students eligible for these scholarships should have secured not less than 50 percent marks in the previously qualified examination…,” said Minister of State for Minority Affairs Ninong Ering in a written reply.
“…The annual income of parents…should not be more than Rs.1 lakh in case of pre-matric, Rs.2 lakh for post-matric and Rs.2.50 lakh in case of merit-cum-means scholarship,” Ering said.
At least 5,10,809 Muslim students were granted pre-matric scholarships, while 35,778 and 4,002 students were granted post-matric and merit-cum-means scholarship respectively in the state in the financial year 2012-13.
In the year 2009-10, a total of 1,18,880 students from the Muslim community in Maharashtra were granted pre-matric scholarships, while 14,417 and 2,491 students from the community were awarded post-matric and merit-cum-means scholarship respectively.
A total of 4,43,412 girls from the minority communities were also extended financial aid in the state during 2012-13.
A total of 80,803 girls belonging to minority communities in Maharashtra were given scholarships under pre, post and merit-cum scholarships schemes in 2009-10, while 2,01,060 and 4,48,436 girl were awarded these scholarships during 2010-11 and 2011-12, respectively.
Under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, a total of 43 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBV), residential schools for girls at upper primary levels in backward blocks, enrolling 252 Muslim girls were opened till December 2012 in Maharashtra, the minister said.
An amount of Rs.22,547.29 crore has been lent by the public sector banks in the state up to December 2012 to the minority communities, he added.