Free coaching for SC, ST and minority candidates

Shri Subhasish Panda, Director, Social Justice and Empowerment informed that the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India is implementing free coaching and allied scheme for the candidates belonging to scheduled castes and other backward classes with the objective of assisting students belonging to SCs and OBCs categories whose parents and guardians' income is less than Rs. 1 lac (One lac) per annum. He said that as per provision of the scheme, reputed institutions and centres run by State Government and Universities including Deemed Universities and Private Sector Organizations could be provided grant for the running of various courses including group A and B examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) and the various Railway Recruitment Boards (RRB), group A and B examinations conducted by the State Public Service Commissions, Officers' Grade examination conducted by Banks, Insurance Companies and Public Sector Undertaking s (PSUs) and finishing courses/job oriented for employment in the private sector like IT, Bio-Technology etc. in need of soft skill as well.

He also informed that there is provision to provide stipend to the student at the rate of 1500/- per month for out stationed and Rs. 750/- per student per month for local students.

Shri Panda further disclosed that similar scheme is being implemented by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Govt. of India for the candidates belonging to minority community i.e. 'Free coaching and allied scheme for the candidate belonging to minority communities whose parents/guardians income is less than 2.50 lac. He said that the institution in government sector/private sector including universities engaged in coaching activities are eligible for running the coaching program subject to the condition that these institution should have required number of well qualified faculty members on its payroll or part time basis and have necessary information, infrastructure etc. 100% assistance is provided for organizing courses which include qualifying examination for admission in

technical/professional courses such as engineering law, medical management, information technology etc. and languages/aptitude examination for seeking admission in foreign universities, competitive examination for recruitment to Group A, B,C and D services and other equivalent posts under the Central and State governments including policy/security forces, public sector undertaking, railways, banks insurance companies as well as autonomous bodies and coaching for jobs in the private sector such as in airlines, shipping, information technology (IT), business process outsourcing (BPO) and other IT enabled services, hospitality, tours and travels, maritime, food processing, retail sales and marketing, bio-technology and other job oriented courses as per the emerging trend of employment, remedial coaching at undergraduate and post graduate level to improve the academic knowledge and enable the students to catch up with the rest of the class and complete the course successfully.

He also said that there is provision to provide stipend at the rate of 1500/- per month for out stationed and Rs. 750 per student per month for local students.

The Director said that institutions can avail the above schemes by applying on the prescribed format to the Director Social Justice and Empowerment, H.P. More details can be obtained form the following web sites www.socialjustice.nic.in and www.minorityaffair.gov.in.