Scholorships and Special Financial Govt Facilities available for OBC’s and Minorities

India is a beautiful country with diverse cultures, languages and races. The strength of India depends upon unity in diversity. Every system is as strong as its weakest link. Hence for a strong India, the minorities should be empowered, strengthened and brought to main stream. Only education can empower minorities and OBCs to share the fruit of development and play a lead role in Nation building.   So government of India and state governments have come forward with various scholarships and loan schemes to help the minorities, Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe  and OBC students. The main concern today is these scheme reaching the right people. In today’s talk I will be  concentrating on minorities and OBCs.  These schemes come under prime minister’s 15 point programmes for the welfare of minorities. The schemes are carried out through the state directorate of minorities. The important schemes are as follows:

1.       Pre Metric Scholarships for primary students

(1) Students who have scored above 50% in the previous final examination may apply.

(2) The annual income of the students’ parents / guardian from all sources should not exceed Rs.1 lakh.

Documents to be enclosed (attached) with the application

(i) Photo of the student must be pasted on the first page of this application.

(ii) Xerox Copy of the “ Caste & Income Certificate” issued by Tahsildar

                                                 or

 Original Affidavit on non-judicial stamp paper of Rs.20/- as per the format given. Last date to apply is July 31. Applicattions can be down loaded from the website www.momascholarship.gov.in

2.  Post Metric Scholarships 

Students studying in   PUC and above  except professional courses can apply. They must have

•       Minimum 50% in previous class

•        Family ncome Income less than 2 lakhs

•        Enclose attested copy of Income Certificate issued by Tahsildar or Original Income Affidavit on a Non-Judicial Stamp paper of Rs.20/-

•       The students who have been sanctioned scholarship for 2011-12 are eligible to apply for renewal for 2012-13,

•       A xerox copy of the receipt for having paid the School/College fee should be enclosed along with the application

•       Applicant who applies for both fresh & renewal of Scholarship should indicate their nationalized Saving Bank full account number along with the Bank’s IFSC code number so that the Scholarship amount can directly to be transferred to the students account through online transfer.  The student should register only once for online Scholarship. If there is any mistake while submitting online application it should be brought to the notice of the Directorate of Minorities. Corrections will be done at Directorate of Minorities office only.

•       Last date  for submission is 30^th September. 

Procedure to apply for Scholarship

1. The eligible students must log on to www.momascholarship.gov.in  or www.minorityaffairs.gov.in & fill in the ONLINE APPLICATIONS.
2. In home page click on Post-Matric Scholarship.
3. Student should go to "Student Registration" to fill in the ONLINE APPLICATION.
4. Student should read the instruction/guidelines given in the "Student Registration" before filling online application.
5. After filling the online application, students are advised to reconfirm the details entered & only then submit the online application. Once you submit the online application then you will not be able to edit it.
6. After submitting the online application , student will get an option to print the form. The student should take the printout of the duly filled application form & submit the same along with all the required documents duly certified by the principal of the concerned College/Institution & submit/post it to the Directorate of Minorities , 20 th Floor, V.V.Towers, Dr.B.R. Ambedkar Veedhi, Bangalore –560001, on or before the last date fixed for submission of online applications (Hard Copies).
7. The student  will not be considered for Scholarship if the Directorate of Minorities does not receive the hard copy of your application. It is the responsibility of the STUDENT to submit the hard copy to the Directorate of Minorities, Bangalore, either by post or in person.

Documents to be Enclosed

1. Photocopy of 10 th Std. Marks Card & previous year marks card /semesters mark card.
2. Photocopy of Income Certificate issued by the Tahsildar or Income Affidavit in a Non-judicial Stamp paper of Rs.20/-in original.
3. Photocopy of the fee receipt for the current year.
4. Two (2) Passport size photos.
5. A Xerox copy of the Bank Pass Book (1st Page) indicating A/C No. & IFSC Code etc.

3.       MERIT-CUM-MEANS SCHOLARSHIP 2012-13

This scholarship is for  the students belonging to the minority communities pursuing

•          Engineering & Technology Courses (B.E., B.Tech., M.E., M.Tech., MCA)

•          Medicine & Paramedical (MBBS,BUMS,BAMS,BHMS,MD,BPT,MPT,BOT,MOT,B.Sc. Nursing, M.Sc Nursing, BDS, MDS)

•          Fashion Technology  (B.FTech, M.FTech)

•          Management  (MBA, PGDM, PGCM, Exec-PGDM)

•          Pharmacy  (B.Pharma, M.Pharma)

•          Architecture & Design (B.Arch, ID, BCT, PL, PGD)

•          Hotel Management  (BHM & CT)

•          Applied Arts & Craft ( APD, FA, FAD)

•          Veterinary Science (B.V.Sc., & A.H.PG)

•          Chartered Accountancy (CA)

•          Institute of Cost and work Accountancy (ICWA)

Company Secretary (CS) and Law (LLB,LLM

Conditions for Scholarship:

1.       To be eligible for applying scholarship,  students should have scored not less than 50% marks in the previous year’s final examination.

The annual income of the student's parents/ guardian from all sources should not exceed Rs. 2.5 Lakhs. Enclose attested copy of Income Certificate issued by Tahsildar or Original Income Affidavit

2.       Every applicant who applies for renewal of scholarship should Indicate their  SB Account Number along with the bank's IFSC Code Number & full bank address in the ONLINE application so that the scholarship can directly be transferred to the account through ECS.

3.       The student should register only once for online Scholarship. If there is any mistake while submitting online application it should be brought to the notice of the Director. Corrections will be done at Directorate office only.

4.       Applications received after last date will not be considered (Except Renewals).

5.       Incomplete Application and Incomplete documents will not be considered.

6.       If student is having any back logs in any semester he/she is not eligible.

1. Apply through the Principal of the College by 31-8-12

4.       Maulana Azad National Scholarship for Girls

Eligibility criterion/who can apply

1 This scholarship is for girls studying in 11^th std . They Should have secured not less than 55% marks (in aggregate) in the secondary school certificate examination (Class xth) conducted by any recognized Centre/State Board of Secondary Education...more

2.       Family income of the  student from all sources should be less than Rs. 1,00,000/-(Rupees one lakh only) in the preceding financial year.

3. Should have Confirmed admission in class-XI.
4. The University/College/ Institute offering admission should be recognized by the Government at the Central or State level or any other competent authority.
5. It is one time scholarship, and no claim as permanent beneficiary will be entertained. from any other source would not be eligible for this Scholarship Student once selected for scholarship can not avail the same again.

5.       National Overseas Schlorship Scheme:

Government has introduced a scheme to provide financial assistance to minority students for persuing higher studies abroad in Masters degree , Ph D and post doctoral studies in prestigious Foreign Universities through the directorate of Minorities Government of Karnataka. The applicant should be first class and below the age of 38. The income limit of the candidate and parents should be less than 4 lakhs per annum.  Financial assistance  5 laks to 10 laks is available.  Normally July is the time to apply.

6.       Maulana Azad National Fellowship for Minority students:

The objective of this scheme is to provide fellowship in the form of financial assistance to the students from minority communities pursuing higher studies such as M Phil and Ph D. The candidates those who have 50% marks in post graduation can apply for the fellowship after getting admission for the course. The rate of fellowship is at par with UGC JRF of SRF fellowship. This scheme Is advertised by UGC every year.

7.       National Merit Cum Means scholarship scheme for OBC and economically weaker section.

This scheme is proposed by the MHRD to award scholarships to the meritorious students belonging to weaker section of the society.  The students studying in 8^th std of Government of aided school can apply for this. There is state level exam in the second week of November.  Selected students are given scholarships 500 rupees per month till they complete 12^th standard.  The students whose parents income is less than 1.5 laks can avail this benefit.

8.       Free Coaching for Minority and OBC  students

There is remedial coaching scheme for minority  ans OBC students in the colleges. UGC is paying rupees 5 hundred per hour to the resource persons. The respective college has to apply for this scheme.

 Govt of India arranges coaching through recognised insitutions for coaching for the exams for group A services like IAS and IPS, group B and C services and coaching for entrance exam to professional colleges.  In addition to the fees of the institution, stipend of rupees 1500 per month for out station students and rupees 750 for the local students is paid by the ministry Govt of India. Similar schemes are there for S.C\S.T and OBCs also.

9.      Financial Grant(Protsaha dana) from Karnataka State Government.

Financial Grant(Protsaha dana) from Karnataka State Government as follows.

1. PUC-Rs 3000 PA

Degree Rs-4000 PA

3. P.G- Rs 5000 PA

2.       Minimum 50%  marks in previous year

3.        Family income should be less than  2 laks,   attested copy of Income Certificate issued by Tahsildar or Original Income Affidavit must be attached.

4. Application forms are  available in Minority Welfare  Department.
5. Apply through the Principal of the College .

There are separate application forms for Christians and others. Christians are paid from Christian Development council.

10.   Educational Incentives through Karnataka Backward Class department

Through this department hostels are run for pre metric, post metric, professional and post graduate studies. The department takes care of boarding and lodging expenses.  IN this academic year 50 post metric, 27 professional and 12 post graduate hostels are newly opened.

The OBC  students of primary are paid rupees 500, high school boys are paid  rupees 600 and high school girls are paid rupees 1000 per year. The families whose income is less than 3.5 lakhs can avail these benefits in Karnataka.

There are also Moraji Desai residential school and PU Colleges for minorities and OBC students.

  The purpose of these schemes is to integrate minorities and OBCs into the main stream. But many a times these schemes do not reach the target group. All the facilities are cornered by the upper level of these communities and poor remain where they are.  It is the responsibilities of NGOs and community organisations to see that the facilities reach the needy.  But it is a pity that the members to the committees of these welfare programme are appointed on the basis of political affiliation.  These members have become the mouth pieces of the political parties and work for their own benefit rather than the benefit of the community.

    There are also problems in On line applications specially in post metric. The internet centres are charging heavy fees as most of the people have no internet in their homes.  The names of many colleges and the names of courses are missing. The directorate of minorities should rectify the errors.