Centre urged to restore pre-matric scholarship for SCs

Jai Bhim Makkal Katchi state president AA Arivazhagan appealed to the Centre to restore pre-Matric scholarship to poor students of SC, ST, OBC and minority students of Class 1 to 8.

He said the Centre said under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, the government has to provide free and compulsory elementary education (classes 1 to 8) to each child. So, it has stopped pre-matric scholarships from the academic year 2022-23 and assured it to only students in classes 9 and 10.

In a pre-matric scholarship, the Centre and State governments' share is at the ratio of 75:25 and income of parents should not exceed 2.50 lakh per annum. The scholarship was225 per month for day scholars and525 per month for hostel residents for a period of 10 months in a year. Books and ad hoc grant for day scholars was750 and 1,000 for hostel residents.

But, applications of crores of students were rejected this year, he rued.He pleaded to the Centre to  restore the scholarship as an incentivise for the children to encourage Nenrolment, attend classes and complete elementary education.RTE is a fundamental right. But, the scholarship is for educational upliftment. The Union Government’s move will cause non-enrolment and dropouts at the elementary stage, he rued.