G.O Ms No. 67 Dated 7.7.2004 of Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Dept, Tamil Nadu

Centrally Sponsored Scheme – Award of Pre-matric Scholarships to Children of those engaged in unclean occupations like scavenging, tanning and flaying – Modified scheme – Communicated.

From the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, New Delhi, letter No.11014/28/2002 SCD-V dated 11.9.2003 and 30.10.2003.

3. The Commissioner and Director of Adi Dravidar Welfare is requested to implement the modified scheme of Pre-matric scholarship to the children of those engaged in unclean occupation with effect from 1.4.2003. He is also requested to bring the modified scheme to the notice of all concerned and also to give wide publicity .

4. This order issues with the concurrence of the Finance Department vide its U.O. No.36054/SW/2004 dated 16.6.2004.

The Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes & Minorities Welfare Department, Chennai 9. (w.e.)

Subject:

Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Pre-matric Scholarship to Students of those engaged in Unclean Occupations – Continuation of the Scheme during 10^th Five Year Plan (2002-2007) with modifications – regarding.

I am directed to refer to the above subject and to say that the Government of India

have decided to continue the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Pre-matric Scholarship to Students of those engaged in Unclean Occupations during the 10^th Five Year Plan period (2002-2007) with the following modifications w.e.f. 01.04.2003:-

Classes	Pre-revised Scholarship (Rs.per month)	Revised Scholarship (Rs.per month)
I-V	25	40
VI-VIII	40	60
IX-X	50	75

Classes

Pre-revised Scholarship

(Rs.per month)

Revised Scholarship

(Rs.per month)

III-VIII

200

300

IX-X

250

375

(ii) The annual adhoc grant has been increased from the existing leave of Rs.500/- to Rs.550/- for day scholars and Rs.600/- for hostellsers

2. The regulations governing the Scheme we..f. 1.4.2003 will be issued separately. Hindi version will be sent later.

3. These modifications may please be brought to the notice of all concerned and the proposals for seeking central assistance as per the revised norms may please be furnished at the earliest.

Subject

Centrally Sponsored scheme of Pre-Matric Scholarship to the Children of those engaged in unclean occupations-continuation of the revised scheme during the Tenth Five Year Plan Period (2002-07)- Regarding.

I am directed to refer to this Ministry’s letter of even number dated 11.09.2003 on the above subject and to send herewith a copy of the English version of regulations governing the scheme during the Tenth Five Year Plan Period (2002-07), as applicable with effect from 1.4.2003. The Hindi version will be sent later on.

REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE CENTRALLY SPONSORED SCHEME OF PRE-MATRIC SCHOLARSHIPS TO THE CHILDREN OF THOSE ENGAGED IN UNCLEAN OCCUPATIONS i.e. SCAVAENGING, TANNING AND FLAYING APPLICABLE WITH EFFECT FROM 1.4.2003

The object of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to enable the children of scavengers of dry latrines, tanners, flayers and sweepers who have traditional link with scavenging to pursue pre-matric education.

i) Scholarship will be admissible to the children of Indian National who irrespective of their religion, are actively engaged in scavenging of dry latrines, and other unclean occupations i.e. tanning and flaying only, which are traditionally considered ‘unclean’.

ii) It is not possible to draw a line of demarcation between sweepers and scavengers since most of the sweepers are doing the job of scavenging. Hence, the benefit of this scheme will be available to the children of those sweepers only who have traditional links with scavenging.

iii) In rural areas, children of all those who are actually engaged in scavenging of dry latrines, tanning and flaying will be covered.

iv) Children who are born to parents who are not engaged in such occupations, but have been adopted by such person will be eligible for scholarship only after a lapse of three years from the date of such adoption provided that they have been living with the adopted parents since the date of such adoption. Such children will be eligible only if their parents furnish such certificates (such as a proof of their occupation, date of adoption etc.) as may be required by the concerned State Government/Union Territory administration.

v) A certificate should be obtained from the candidates each year to the effect that at least one parent is still engaged in an unclean occupation as defined in the object of the scheme and para 2(i) to (iv) above.

vi) There is no restriction as to the number of children of the same parents who would be eligible for award of scholarship upto class VIII subject to the condition that if a third or subsequent child is born after 1-4-1993, a total of only two children in the family would be eligible for award of the scholarship.

vii) In respect of Classes IX & X, only two children of the same parents would be eligible for the award of the scholarship.

viii) No income ceiling has been prescribed for award of scholarships under the scheme.

The scholarship may be given to students enrolled in class I or any subsequent class upto matric stage in the case of day scholars, and in class III or any subsequent class upto matric stage in case of hostellers. The scholarship will terminate at the end of class X. The duration of scholarship in an academic year is ten months.

The scholarship will be tenable only in such institutions and for such course upto matriculation stage, which have been duly recognised by the concerned State Government and Union Territory Administrations.

Normally, the term ‘Hostel’ means a common residential building having a common mess for students. However, a residence run by R.K.Mission or / and such other reputable organization approved by the Government of India/State Govt. may also be deemed as a hostel.

The students as hostellers will be covered from class III to X. The rates of scholarships are as under:-

Class III to VIII	Rs.300/- per month for 10 months
Class IX to X	Rs.375/- per month for 10 months

The students as day scholars will be covered from Class I to Class X. The rates of scholarships are as under:-

Class I to V	Rs.40/- per month for 10 months
Class VI to VIII	Rs.60/- per month for 10 months
Class IX to X	Rs75/- per month for 10 months.

The day scholars and hostellers are eligible for an adhoc grant of Rs.550 and Rs.600/- per student per annum respectively.

IV. ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS FOR STUDENTS AMONGST TARGET GROUPS WITH DISABILITIES

b) Transport allowance of Rs.50 per month for the disabled students not residing in the hostel located within the premises of educational institution.

c) Special Pay of Rs.100 per month to any employee of the hostel willing to extend help to a severely orthopaedically handicapped student residing in a hostel managed by the educational institution or by the State Government/Union Territory Administration who may need the assistance of a helper.

d) Escort allowance of Rs.50 per month for severely handicapped day scholars students with lower extremity disability.

e) Allowance of Rs.100 per month towards extra coaching to mentally retarded and mentally ill students in classes IX and X.

Note 1: The students amongst target groups with disabilities covered under this scheme can also get such additional benefits from other schemes, which are not covered in the above provision.

Note 2: The disability as per the Persons with the Disabilities (Equal Opportunities), Protection of Rights and Full Participation Act, 1995 is defined as blindness, low-vision, leprosy-cured, hearing impairment, locomotor disability, mental retardation and mental illness which has to be certified by competent medical authority of the State Government/Union Territory Administration.

V.The scholarship amount will be payable from the date of joining to the date of leaving the school, excluding the period of vacation, which will be about 10 months in a year except in the cases where the students enters or leaves early in the midst of academic year.

The scheme will be implemented and administered by the concerned State Governments/Union Territory Administrations in accordance with its regulations in force.

The concerned State Government and Union Territory Administration will lay down the detailed procedure for selection of students.

The concerned State Government and Union Territory Administration will be responsible to provide hostel accommodation to the hostellers. The scheme covers provision for renting of building for such hostellers near the schools if hostel facilities are not available in the school itself – rent reasonability to be certified by competent authority of the State Government. Provisions is also there for appointment of full time paid hostel warden where the number of students are large, otherwise one of school teachers is to be appointed as hostel warden on an honorarium as extra remuneration for performing the work of the hostel warden.

i) The students may not be allowed to take up employment or render help to parents in their work during the course of studies.

ii) The award will be discontinued if a student fails to secure annual promotion except in case of unavoidable reasons to be certified by the competent authority of the scheme.

iv) If a student violates schools discipline or any other term and condition of the scholarship, scholarship may be suspended or even cancelled, subject to the satisfaction of the competent school authority. The State Government/Union Territory Administration can also directly cancel the award if duly satisfied of the reasons of violation of these regulations governing the Scheme.

v) Migration of students from one institution to another would not normally be allowed during the course of the academic year except under exceptional circumstances and in the interest of student’s academic career.

vi) The scholar obtaining benefits under this scheme is not allowed to avail of the benefits under any other pre-matric scholarship scheme.

vii) The students should be regular in attendance for which the yardstick is to be decided by the competent authority of the school.

The scholarship, once awarded, may be renewed during next academic year by the concerned State Government/Union Territory Administration unless the competent authority of the school recommends to the State Government/Union Territory Administration to discontinue the award with reference to relevant clause of these regulations governing the scheme.

The scheme will be announced by the concerned State Government/Union Territory Administration well in time, by giving advertisements in the leading language newspapers local dailies and by using other suitable publicity media.

The concerned Department of the State Government/Union Territory Administration will supply the application forms, which should be received back by that Department along with prescribed certificate, by the last date.

The scheme will be funded on co-sharing basis; i.e. 50% of the total expenditure will be borne by the Government of India as Central Assistance (over and above the committed liability) and 50% by the concerned State Government. The Union Territories will however, be provided 100% Central Assistance (over and above the committed liability).

These regulations governing the scheme may be changed by the Government of India at any time as and when considered necessary.