Chandigarh, July 1 - Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hoodatoday announced a bonanza of incentives, involving an investment ofabout Rs 500 crore, for students belonging to Scheduled Castes andfamilies living below the poverty line so as to enable them pursuetheir education upto college level। The Chief Minister was addressing media persons after launching aninnovative mega scheme of giving monthly stipend and one timeallowance to all Scheduled Castes students studying in Governmentschools in the State thus benefitting eight lakh students in pursuingtheir education। Mr Hooda announced that all Scheduled Castes students studying incolleges would get Rs 2000 per year to purchase books and in additionthey would also get a monthly stipend of Rs 1000. Earlier such ascheme was applicable for Scheduled Castes students of schools uptoten plus two level. The Chief Minister announced that for the first time in the State,from this year, not only students belonging to Scheduled Castes, butalso of other communities studying in Government schools from classesI to VIII would be given text books free of cost. Earlier, thisfacility was available to only Scheduled Castes students of Governmentschools and girl students belonging to other communities. A sum ofabout Rs 43 crore would be spent on providing free text books and workbooks. He also announced a new scheme for boys belonging to below povertyline families. Under this scheme, a monthly incentive of Rs 75 will begiven to boys studying from classes I to V. It would be Rs 100 forthose studying in classes from VI to VIII and of Rs 150 for those in classes IX to XI. In case of science students of plus one and two, theincentive would be Rs 200 per month. All BPL students who are studyingin colleges would get Rs 750 per month.This new scheme would befit BPLstudents by about Rs 35 crore per year. While launching the incentive based scheme for Scheduled Castesstudents, he said that the amount of monthly stipend would be Rs. 100for boys and Rs. 150 for girls studying in classes I to V. It wouldbe Rs. 150 and Rs. 200 for boys and girls respectively in classes VIto VIII. Similarly, it would be Rs. 200 and Rs. 300 for students ofclasses IX to XII. In case of science students studying in classes XIand XII, the amount of stipend would be Rs. 300 for boys and Rs. 400for girls. He said that similar benefits were being to the girlstudents belonging to all below poverty line families in the Stateupto plus two level.The implementation of this scheme would benefitthem to the tune of Rs. 70 crore. He also released first quarterly instalment of the monthly allowanceand full payment of one time allowance to be disbursed amongst theeligible students, amounting to about Rs. 128 crore. He also issuedauthorisation letters to 17 banks through whom the stipend would bedisbursed to the students. The Chief Minister said that the scheme has been implemented as apart of the activities being undertaken during the current year, whichhas already been declared as the "Year of Education" by him on January5, 2008. This incentive based scheme would not only encourage studentsto continue their education, but would also help their poor parentsin educating their children. Mr.Hooda said that the State Governmenthas either fulfilled or is in the process of fulfilling all itspromises made while announcing year 2008 as the "Year of Education". He said that with a view to ensure that the funds reach the studentsin time and no misuse takes place, bank accounts in favour of all
eligible students have been opened in their nearest bank branch, whichwould be operated by either mother or father of each student. He saidthat with a view to meet schools' expenditure, one time allowanceranging from Rs 740 to Rs 1450 would also be given. Mr. Hooda said that when the present government assumed office inMarch, 2005, the total amount spent on welfare of Scheduled Castesstudents was merely Rs. 25 crore, which has been enhanced to Rs. 280crore during a short period of three-and-a-half years. This is aneleven fold increase. The Chief Minister also released a set of work books to be given freeof cost to all students studying in Government schools from Class-Ito VIII. The State Government will spend about Rs. 18.50 crore toprovide work books free of cost thus benefiting 20 lakh students. While referring to the work books released by him, he said that thesework books have been prepared with the help of reputed NGOs and alarge number of education experts. These books would be furtherimproved in the years to come. Mr.Hooda said that the concept of work books was totally new inHaryana and these books were available only for students studying inelite private schools. Now all children studying in Government schoolswould also be able to get study material, which is at par with thebest in the country. He said that comprehensive reforms were being brought about at alllevels of education including primary, secondary, colleges andUniversities. During this year, computer education would be launchedin 25 big colleges and 200 Senior Secondary schools. More collegesand schools would be covered in the subsequent years.Comprehensiveschool upgradation programme has also been launched. About 15,000additional seats in job oriented courses like Commerce, Science andComputers have been created in the Universities and colleges of theState, which would radically transform the education system and would
help in preparing youth of Haryana in partaking benefit of hugeeconomic growth taking place in the State. The courses for students ofplus one, plus two and also those studying in colleges would be suchthat they get employment after completing their education. Mr Hooda said that delivery of social justice was not merely a sloganof the State Government, but the Government wishes to realise thisdream to empower the weaker sections of the society. He said that suchrevolutionary decisions being taken in the sector of education wouldtransform the society within a decade. Mr.Hooda reiterated his resolve that human resource development inthe State would continue to be accorded highest priority and no stonewould be left unturned in offering the best job opportunities to theyoung girls and boys of Haryana. He said that bright future awaitsthe youth and children of Haryana. He resolved that Haryana wouldlead the country in the sector of education within a short period oftime. Education Minister, Mr Mange Ram Gupta thanked the banks for theircooperation in the implementation of incentive based scheme. He hopedthat the incentives being given to poor students would help them inpursuing their higher education. Commissioner and Secretary, Education Mr Rajan Gupta and DirectorHigher Education Mr Anurag Rastogi also spoke on the occasion. Those present on the occasion included MLA Mr Radhey Shyam Sharma,Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Mr M.L.Tayal, Political Adviserto Chief Minister Prof Virender, Media Adviser to Chief Minister, MrSunder Pal and other senior officers of Education Department andofficers of various banks..
eligible students have been opened in their nearest bank branch, whichwould be operated by either mother or father of each student. He saidthat with a view to meet schools' expenditure, one time allowanceranging from Rs 740 to Rs 1450 would also be given. Mr. Hooda said that when the present government assumed office inMarch, 2005, the total amount spent on welfare of Scheduled Castesstudents was merely Rs. 25 crore, which has been enhanced to Rs. 280crore during a short period of three-and-a-half years. This is aneleven fold increase. The Chief Minister also released a set of work books to be given freeof cost to all students studying in Government schools from Class-Ito VIII. The State Government will spend about Rs. 18.50 crore toprovide work books free of cost thus benefiting 20 lakh students. While referring to the work books released by him, he said that thesework books have been prepared with the help of reputed NGOs and alarge number of education experts. These books would be furtherimproved in the years to come. Mr.Hooda said that the concept of work books was totally new inHaryana and these books were available only for students studying inelite private schools. Now all children studying in Government schoolswould also be able to get study material, which is at par with thebest in the country. He said that comprehensive reforms were being brought about at alllevels of education including primary, secondary, colleges andUniversities. During this year, computer education would be launchedin 25 big colleges and 200 Senior Secondary schools. More collegesand schools would be covered in the subsequent years.Comprehensiveschool upgradation programme has also been launched. About 15,000additional seats in job oriented courses like Commerce, Science andComputers have been created in the Universities and colleges of theState, which would radically transform the education system and would
help in preparing youth of Haryana in partaking benefit of hugeeconomic growth taking place in the State. The courses for students ofplus one, plus two and also those studying in colleges would be suchthat they get employment after completing their education. Mr Hooda said that delivery of social justice was not merely a sloganof the State Government, but the Government wishes to realise thisdream to empower the weaker sections of the society. He said that suchrevolutionary decisions being taken in the sector of education wouldtransform the society within a decade. Mr.Hooda reiterated his resolve that human resource development inthe State would continue to be accorded highest priority and no stonewould be left unturned in offering the best job opportunities to theyoung girls and boys of Haryana. He said that bright future awaitsthe youth and children of Haryana. He resolved that Haryana wouldlead the country in the sector of education within a short period oftime. Education Minister, Mr Mange Ram Gupta thanked the banks for theircooperation in the implementation of incentive based scheme. He hopedthat the incentives being given to poor students would help them inpursuing their higher education. Commissioner and Secretary, Education Mr Rajan Gupta and DirectorHigher Education Mr Anurag Rastogi also spoke on the occasion. Those present on the occasion included MLA Mr Radhey Shyam Sharma,Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Mr M.L.Tayal, Political Adviserto Chief Minister Prof Virender, Media Adviser to Chief Minister, MrSunder Pal and other senior officers of Education Department andofficers of various banks..
