Haryana govt's largesse for Dalit, Backward students

 -AMRENDRA YADAV

The Bhupendra Singh Hudda government of Haryana seems to have suddenly turned munificent towards Dalits and OBCs. While a string of announcements have been made for the welfare of the Dalits and Backwards, their educational development is being given top priority by the government.

The execution of several schemes announced earlier has begun and the government is trying to make the Dalits and OBCs aware of their rights. Every possible effort is being made to provide good quality education to the children of these communities. Arrangements are being made to ensure that Primary and Middle-level education becomes available locally in the rural and backward areas of the state. The OBC, SC and BPL students studying in Primary, Middle and High Schools are being provided monthly scholarships ranging between Rs 65 and Rs 400. Besides, to encourage the children of deprived sections to study, the state government is also providing them free bicycles, textbooks, mid-day meals, school uniforms and coaching facility for various competitive examinations. SC students are being paid a one-time allowance ranging between Rs 750 and Rs 1450 for school bags, uniforms, stationery, shoes etc.

Since the year 2008, the Haryana government is paying the scholarship amount of students directly into their bank accounts under the "Direct to cash scholarship scheme". Since 2005, the SC students from class nine up to Post-graduate level are being given scholarships ranging from Rs 4,000 to Rs 12,000 per annum under the "Ambedkar Medhavi Chatra Yojana" (Ambedkar meritorious students' scheme). Under the same scheme, OBC students get an annual scholarship of Rs 8,000 after clearing class ten examinations. In 2009, the Haryana government implemented the "SC girl students' higher education incentive scheme" under which SC girl students pursuing Science, Commerce or other vocational courses are given annual monetary incentive ranging between Rs 5,000 and Rs. 14,000. As many as 31 hostels are being established in the state under the "Babu Jagjivanram hostel scheme". The government's various schemes for Dalit-OBC students would not only benefit these communities but would also fetch long-term benefits for the state.   

                                             (Published in  Forward Press,  May, 2013 Issue)