Number of SC, ST students getting means-cum-merit scholarship dropped 17.47%, 27% in 2021-22

NEW DELHI: There has been a significant decline in the number of National Means-cum-Merit scholarships offered to Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) by the Government of India, as per a data shared by the ministry of education in a parliamentary reply.

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According to the data, while 58,307 SC and 22562 ST students were getting the benefits of the NMMSS scholarship scheme in the year 2020-21, only 48,116 SC and 16460 ST students have received it in 2021-22 session till March 31.

The number of SC, ST beneficiaries and amount sanctioned under NMMSS during the last three years and the current year is as follows:

On the other hand, for another scholarship scheme called National Talent Research Scheme (NTRS), the number of SC and ST students getting the benefits has increased. While only 214 SC and 118 ST students were getting the scholarship in the year 2020-21, around 496 SC and 163 ST students have received it in 2021-22.

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Replying to the question whether the Government has introduced various scholarships for the meritorious students of SCs, STs studying in schools in the country, the union education minister said in a reply that “the Government has introduced various scholarships for the meritorious students including SC, ST students. Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarship schemes for all eligible SC, ST students are also being implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA).

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When asked whether several students from SCs, STs, OBCs and economically weaker section are not receiving scholarships in time; the education ministry replied that the NMMSS scheme is fully on-boarded on the National Scholarship Portal, which was developed for streamlining and fast-tracking the release of scholarships and assuring the delivery of scholarships with efficiency, transparency and reliability. Students are receiving scholarships in time. Even under the National Talent Search Scheme too there is no delay in release of the scholarships.

Further replying to the question whether the Government has started to transfer scholarship amount directly into the beneficiary student account, the ministry responded that the scholarship amounts are transferred directly into the account of the beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in all the schemes.