To promote the social economic development of scheduled castes (SC) in India, the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has launched the Scheme SHRESHTA “Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas”.
To expand the reach of government development initiatives and address service deficiencies in SC-dominant areas within the education sector, is the primary objective of SHRESHTA. The information on the scheme was launched by a press release by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Know More About SHRESTHA
WHAT THE SCHEME IS ABOUT:
The primary objective is to uplift the socio-economic status of SC by facilitating them with High-Quality Education to their children in the Best Private Residential Schools in the country.The admissions will be given to Class 9 & Class 11 students of CBSE-affiliated private schools.
The aim of the scheme is to make convenient delivery of the Govt. initiatives and schemes.
To create a suitable atmosphere for Scheduled Castes’ economic advancement and overall growth. Making various volunteering groups to build the gap in service-deprived Scheduled Castes dominating regions in the education sector. To give bright SC students a high-quality education so that they can pursue future opportunities.
The students belonging to Scheduled Castes, studying in classes 8th and 10th in the current academic year are eligible to take advantage of the scheme. The students who come from a marginalized income group with an annual income of up to Rs. 2.5 lakh are eligible.
The selection procedure will be done through a transparent mechanism which is the National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS).
THE DEPARTMENT WILL PROVIDE
The government has targeted that every year around 3000 students belonging to the SC category will be admitted to classes 9 and class 11.
The department will cover the whole cost of their school fees and accommodation fees till the completion of their academics in class 12.
The ministry will regularly monitor the academic progress of the students. Grants under this scheme are provided to cover school fees and accommodation charges for SC students.
Other initiatives: Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojna? (BJRCY)
The Department of Social Injustice and Empowerment is a mediator agency for planning and implementing this scheme. Assistance by the central government is provided for implementing agencies. The Centrally Sponsored scheme BJRCY is aiming to construct new hostels/expansion of existing hostel facilities for Scheduled Castes students.
Post Matric Scholarship schemes for SC
A centrally sponsored scheme launched in 2006. A big push is given to its effort by the government so that the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education of Scheduled castes.
Single National Scholarship Scheme:
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has been tasked to implement the schemes by organizing a merit test. Students from SC, OBC, Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic tribes, and economically backward caste categories will be able to avail of the national scholarship.
The SHRESHTA scheme signifies the government’s commitment to ensuring quality education.
