Social Schemes - Miscellaneous

Social Schemes - Miscellaneous

Schemes

 1. Scholarships under National Overseas Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Tribe Candidates

The eligibility criteria and age limit prescribed under the Scheme of National Overseas Scholarship for Scheduled Tribe candidates are as under: -

 Minimum Qualifications

1. For Post Doctoral: 55% marks or equivalent grade in relevant Master’s Degree and Ph.D. 
2. Experience: 5 years - Research/Teaching/ Professional in the concerned field is desirable.  Candidates with experience would be given preference.

• For Ph.D.: 55% marks or equivalent grade in relevant Master’s Degree.

1. Experience: 2 years - Teaching/ Research/ Professional / M. Phil Degree in the concerned field is desirable. Candidates with experience would be given preference.
2. For Masters’ Degree: 55% marks or equivalent grade in relevant Bachelor’s Degree. 

Experience: 2 years’ work experience in the concerned field is desirable. Candidates with experience would be given preference.

Age Limit:Below 35 years, as on first day of July of the relevant year of the award.

 The scheme provides financial assistance to ST students selected for pursuing higher studies abroad in certain subjects at the Masters level, and for Ph. D and Post-Doctoral research programmes. A list indicating subjects/ courses of study which will qualify for consideration for award of scholarship is at Annexure-I. The prescribed financial assistance shall be provided till completion of the course/ research or the following period, whichever is earlier: -

1. Post-Doctoral Research - 1& 1/2 years (One and a half year)
2. Ph.D.   -    4 years (four years)

• Master’s Degree -1/2/3 years (One/Two/three years) depending upon the duration of the Course.

The extension of stay beyond prescribed period for levels of courses as mentioned above, may be considered without financial assistance of any kind except the air passage to return to India, if and only if recommendation of the competent concerned authority in the educational institution/ university as well as the Indian Mission abroad is received certifying that such an overstay for a specified period, is absolutely essential for facilitating the candidate to complete the course.  The final decision in this regard will, however, rest with the Government of India alone.

 2. Strengthening Education among ST Girls in Low Literacy Districts

Objective

• The scheme aims to bridge the gap in literacy levels between the general female population and tribal women, through facilitating 100% enrolment of tribal girls in the identified Districts or Blocks, more particularly in naxal affected areas and in areas inhabited by Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs), and reducing drop-outs at the elementary level by creating the required ambience for education. Improvement of the literacy rate of tribal girls is essential to enable them to participate effectively in and benefit from, socio-economic development.

Coverage

• The scheme will be implemented in 54 identified Districts where the ST population is 25% or more, and ST female literacy rate below 35%, or its fractions, as per 2001 census.
• Any other tribal block in a district, other than aforesaid 54 identified districts, which has scheduled tribe population 25% or above, and tribal female literacy rate below 35% or its fractions, as per 2001 census, shall also be covered ( Blocks intimated by West Bengal and Karnataka so far. Such Blocks fulfilling the criteria in other States may also be considered as and when reported).
• In addition, the scheme will also cover areas below a Block level (e.g. Gram Panchayats) inhabited by the notified Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs).
• Out of all the aforesaid areas, the naxal affected areas shall be given priority

Implementing Agency

• The scheme will be implemented through Voluntary Organizations (VOs)/Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and autonomous society/institutions of State Government/Union Territory Administration.
• The existing multidisciplinary “State Committee for Supporting Voluntary Efforts” (SCSVE) constituted by various States/Union Territories will be responsible for identification and scrutiny of the projects of Non-Governmental Organizations under this scheme also.

Eligibility of the Organizations

Organizations including autonomous society/institutions of State Government/Union Territory Administration shall maintain women project staff for the projects run under this scheme.

Voluntary Organization (VO)/Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) have to fulfill the following requirements (through certificates from the District or Panchayati Raj administration):

• Registered for at least three years for the conduct and promotion of social welfare of scheduled tribes.
• Experience of at least three years in successfully running and maintaining hostels and/or educational complexes.
• Financial viability to continue the work for limited periods in the case of delay or absence of assistance from the Ministry.
• Good reputation and credentials, especially for guaranteeing the security and safety of the hostellers.
• Networking with other institutions including Panchayati Raj for optimum utilization of resources allocated and assets created.
  

 3. Development of primitive tribal groups (PTGS)

Objective

• There are certain tribal communities who are having low level of literacy, declining or stagnant population, and pre-agricultural level of technology and economically backward. 75 such groups in 15 States/UTs have been identified and have been categorized as Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs).
• State/UT-wise list of PTGs is at Annexure I. each of these groups is small in number, differentially developed with respect to one another, of remote habitat with poor administrative and infrastructure back up. Therefore, they are in need of priority to be accorded for their protection and development.
• Their problems and needs are quite different from other Scheduled Tribes. Since Primitive Tribal Groups constitute the most vulnerable among tribal groups, States/UTs have been requested to allocate requisite funds from Central Sector/Centrally Sponsored and State Plan schemes for their socio-economic development.
• However, there are items/activities, which though very crucial for the survival, protection and development of PTGs, are not specifically catered to by any existing scheme, the funds under this scheme would be used for these activities.

Scope                                                                   

• The funds under the Central Sector Scheme for the development of Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) would be available only for those items/activities which though very crucial for the survival, protection and development of Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs), are not specifically catered to by any existing schemes, State or Central or by Guidelines governing the utilization of funds under Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Plan and Article 275(1) of the Constitution.
• Such items/activities cannot be exhaustively identified at the Central level as they may differ from State to State and within a State from project to project.
• However, funds under the scheme could be used for helping the beneficiaries of the project to cope with extremely adverse pressures which threaten their survival and protect them against various forms of exploitation and thereby bringing them to a stage when they can demand and receive specific assets and services.
• The activities under the scheme may include measures such as awareness generation and confidence building, training for skill development of tribal youth organizations of self-help groups and provision of services/inputs not covered by any existing scheme. In terms of beneficiaries the scheme will cover only members of PTGs.

Implementing Agency

• The scheme will be implemented through Integrated Tribal development Projects (ITDPs)/Integrated Tribal Development Agencies (ITDAs), Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) and Non-Governmental Organizations having capability and willingness.
• The State Government concerned will be responsible for proper execution, implementation, supervision and coordination of the scheme including selecting of NGOs.
• The ITDPs/ITDAs and TRIs should send their proposal in the prescribed Performa at Annexure II.
• The NGOs should submit their proposal in Performa II with recommendation of the State Govt./UT Admin as per Annexure IV and Annexure V.

Pattern of Funding

• It is Central Sector Scheme; therefore, financial assistance will be available on 100% basis. The optimum period for grant-in-aid to the implementing agencies will be for a period of 3 years.

Initiatives for the North East

 4. Ishan Uday

• Special Scholarship Scheme for students of North East Region.
• The UGC has launched a special scholarship Scheme for students of North East Region from the academic session 2014-15.
• The Scheme envisages grant of 10,000 scholarships to students from North East Region whose parental income is below Rs. 4.5 lakh per annum and would be provided scholarship ranging from Rs. 3,500 to 5,000 per month for studying at under graduate level in Colleges/Universities of the country.
  

 5. Ish?n Vik?s

• Ish?n Vik?s is a comprehensive plan to bring selected students from the school and college levels from the North-Eastern states into close contact with the IITs, NITs and IISERs during their vacation periods.
• A typical visit is envisaged for a period of ten days to one of these institutions, in the form of either an exposure or an Internship programme.
• Each school will send one teacher to accompany a group of about 32 students of class IX and X and 8 teachers.
• The college students would be organised in two groups in summer and in winter, consisting of 32 students each group.
• About 2016 college students and 504 teachers from N-E will be visiting premier Institutes, like IIT/NIT/ IISERs in an academic year. Or Centrally Funded Technological Institutes) with Stipends and Travel will be taken up. From 25 Institutions, about 250 students will be visiting 16 IITs and 6 NITs (to start with six NITs are being considered) per year.