Pre-matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities

This scheme was launched 2014-15 onwards with the aim to provide financial assistance to the parents of students with disabilities for studying in the pre-matric level. The objectives of this scheme are to support parents of students with disabilities for education of their children studying in 9th and 10th standard and also onwards so that the rate of drop-out, especially in the phase from the elementary to the secondary stage is minimized and thereby improving participation of students with disabilities in 9th and 10th standard and at the post-matric stage of education. It shall provide support to students with disabilities to study further in order to prepare themselves to earn their livelihood and find a noble place for themselves in the society as they face several barriers physical, financial, psychological, mental in pursuing studies and living with dignity. At times such students are deprived of harnessing their latent skills and thereby miss the opportunity. The students having less than 40% disability (certified by competent medical authority of the state Governments/UTs.) are not eligible. Also, the annual income of the student’s parents/guardian from all sources must not exceed Rs. 2 Lakh. The financial assistance includes scholarship, reimbursement of compulsory non-refundable fees, book grant, maintenance allowance, escort/reader allowance etc., subject to a maximum ceiling as per norms. The number of scholarships to be granted every year is 46,000 for pre-matric level. The selection of the beneficiaries under this scheme is on the basis of merit after the recommendation of the Governments of State or Union Territories. These schemes will be implemented on-line basis through a web-portal.