Government Claims Scholarship Amount To SC & OBC Students Have Increased, Is It True?

In an infographic titled empowering through education for an inclusive society, the government made four claims regarding the scholarship amount and stipend provided to SC and OBC students. As a part of the larger set of claims about the government’s commitment to social justice, this infographic was published on the government’s 48- months portal.

Has the stipend for SC students been increased?

The first claim is that stipend for day scholars has been raised from ₹150 to ₹225 and for hostellers raised from ₹350 to ₹ 525. The stipend/scholarship is paid to the students belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community studying in the class IX & X, under the pre-matric scholarship scheme. The scheme was amended in September 2017 and the amount of scholarship has been increased. The amendment includes revision of maintenance allowance for Day Scholars from ₹150 per month to ₹225 per month and for Hostellers from ₹ 350 per month to ₹525 per month.

Has the income eligibility been increased for SC and OBC students for availing free coaching?

The second claim is that for free coaching for SC and OBC students, income eligibility raised from ₹4.5 lakhs to ₹6 lakh. The objective of this scheme is to provide quality coaching for economically disadvantaged Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) candidates to enable them to appear in competitive examinations and also succeed in obtaining a job in Public/Private Sector. For students to be eligible under this scheme, the total family income from all sources should be less than or equal to ₹6 lakh per annum. This was noted in the 2017-18 annual report of the Ministry of Social Justice. Further, a press release of the ministry in February 2018 notes that the income eligibility has been raised from ₹4.5 lakhs to ₹6 lakhs.

Has the stipend been raised for SC and OBC students availing free coaching?

The third claim is that stipend has been raised from ₹1500 to ₹ 2500 for local students and from ₹3000 to ₹5000 for outstation students. The 2017-18 annual report of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment notes that ‘monthly stipend of ₹ 2500 per student will be paid for local students for attending the coaching class. Similarly, ₹5000 per student will be paid per month for outstation students.’

Further, a press release of the ministry in February 2018 notes that the stipend has been raised from ₹1500 to ₹2500 for local students and from ₹3000 to ₹5000 per month for outstation students.

Have the rates of Pre-Matric scholarships increased for OBCs?

The fourth claim is that for the pre-matric scholarship of OBCs, the rates of scholarship increased substantially. According to a press release of the ministry in February 2018, ‘the earlier rates of scholarships of day scholars from Class I to V, Class VI to VIII and Class IX to X of ₹25, ₹40 and ₹50 respectively for 10 months has been revised to ₹100 per month for 10 months from Class I to X. Earlier rates of scholarships of hostellers from Class III to VIII and Class IX to X of ₹200 and ₹250 respectively for ten months has been revised to ₹500 per month for 10 months from Class III to X.’ The scheme has been revised with effect from 2017-18.

This story is part of a larger series on the 4-years of the Modi government. This series has been made possible with the flash grant of the International Fact Checking Network (IFCN). Read the rest of the stories in this series here.

Published with the permission from Factly