Karnal, December 9
A scheme, which would go a long way in checking the high drop-out rate among Scheduled Caste students, was announced by Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda at the ‘Dalit sammaan rally’ here today.
According to an estimate, out of over one lakh SC students, who join the schools every year, about 70 per cent students dropout before Class X.
The new scheme is aimed at ensuring that at least a vast majority, if not all, of these students pass out Class XII. The scheme, Mukhyamantri Dalit Chhatra Shiksha Yojana, when fully implemented would cost the state exchequer Rs 260 crore.
Under the scheme, at the time of admission of a SC student in Class 1, Rs 100 per month would be deposited in a savings account of each boy and Rs 150 per month for each girl. The incentive would be given up to Class V. From Class VI to Class VIII, the incentive would be enhanced to Rs 150 for each boy and Rs 200 for each girl.
From Class IX to Class X, the rate of incentive would be further enhanced to Rs 200 per month for each SC boy and Rs 300 per month for each girl.
In case of science students after Class X, the rate of incentive would be Rs 300 per month for boys and Rs 400 per month for girls. The scheme would be effective from the next academic session.
The beneficiaries would be able to withdraw 50 per cent of the deposited money after passing Class X and the rest after they passed Class XII.
Announcing a bonanza for the SCs worth Rs 1,000 crore, the Chief Minister said Rs 400 crore would be spent to develop infrastructure like drinking water supply, power and pucca streets in colonies where plots of 100 sq yards each would be allotted free of cost to the SCs and
those living below the poverty line.
He said a scheme was also being formulated to provide shelter to the poor in urban areas.
Hooda said with a view to realise dreams of Mahatma Gandhi, a scheme would also be implemented in rural areas.
The villages having a majority of the SC population would be given Rs 50 lakh each during the next two years for the development. Similarly, in case of urban slums the wards having a majority of the SC population would be given Rs 1 crore each for development in the next two years.
He also announced the expansion of the Ambedkar Medhaavi Chhatra Yojana under which a scholarship of Rs 1,000 per month will be given to 2,000 students belonging to SCs and Backward Classes. Now the scholarship would be given to 5,000 students.
The Chief Minister also announced that from now the SCs would not have to pay any house tax even if there was any arrears were outstanding against them.
Earlier, he had announced that all those who would clear their outstanding dues would not have to pay house tax from the next financial year.
Among other announcements made by Hooda were the setting of a Chair named after Sant Kabir at Maharshi Dayanand University and land for an Ambedkar Bhawan and a Balmiki Bhawan at Karnal as demanded by local MLA Sumita Singh.
