Central Sector Scheme of Free Coaching for SC and OBC Students

G S Oinam *

(Central Sector Scheme of Free Coaching for SC and OBC Students )

Central Sector Scheme of Free Coaching
for SC and OBC Students
(Effective from April, 2007)

1. Background

1.1 The empowerment of the weaker sections has been a priority area of concern for the Government since independence. A number of plans and programmes are being implemented for assisting the weaker sections so as to enhance their skills and capabilities for ensuring rapid economic development and integration in the national mainstream.

1.2 A scheme for providing free coaching to students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SCs) is being implemented since the 6th Five Year Plan. Similar schemes are also being implemented to provide free coaching to students belonging to other backward classes (OBCs) and minorities. With a view to ensure effective implementation and monitoring and to assist the students in a better manner, the separate coaching schemes for SCs, OBCs and Minorities were amalgamated and a combined Scheme, namely Coaching and Allied Assistance for Weaker Sections including Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes and Minorities was introduced with effect from September, 2001.

1.3 With the creation of a separate Ministry to handle matters relating to the minorities viz. the Ministry of Minority Affairs, it has become necessary to exclude the minority component from the ambit of the scheme. The income criteria of Rs.1.00 lakh per annum of the students availing benefits under the scheme also needs an upward revision in view of the increase in the Consumer Price Index. In addition, the success rate as stipulated in the scheme is found to be unrealistically high as the top rated coaching institutions are not attracted because of low level of central funding. Weighing all pros and cons, it has been decided to revamp the Scheme so as to make it more effective and result oriented.

2. Objectives

The objectives of the Scheme are to provide qualitative coaching for-

(i) 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);
(ii) Group A and B examinations conducted by the State Public Service Commissions;
(iii) Officers’ Grade examinations conducted by Banks, Insurance Companies and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and;
(iv) Finishing courses/job-oriented courses for employment in the private sector like IT, Bio- technology etc. in need of soft skill as well.;

3. Implementing Agencies

The Scheme will be implemented through the reputed institutions/centers run by the State Governments/UT Administrations, Universities (both Central and State including the Deemed Universities in the private sector) and the private sector organizations, preferably of relevant industry Body or institutes identified by them.

4. Selection of Reputed Institutions

4.1 The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India will invite the proposals from the implementing agencies directly every year.

4.2 The proposals received from the implementing agencies will be considered by a Committee consisting of the following:-

i) Additional Secretary (SJ&E) Chairman
ii) JS & FA (SJ&E) Member
iii) A representative from the Planning Commission Member
iv) A representative from the M/o HRD Member
v) A representative from AICTE Member
vi) Two representatives from any two Apex Industrial Forums Members
vii) A representative from NASSCOM Member
vii) Joint Secretary (SCD), M/o SJ&E Member-Secretary

4.3 The concerned Programme Division will carry out a preliminary screening of the proposals received and shortlist those, which prima facie satisfy the eligibility criteria laid down and have all prescribed supporting documents under the scheme. Such shortlisted proposals shall be considered by the Committee constituted as in para 4.2. The Committee will further shortlist institutions which prima-facie appear to be suitable for conducting the coaching State Government/UT Administrations for their comments/recommendations regarding the genuineness, credentials, past record etc., in respect of such institutions. The State/UT Administrations will be requested to convey their comments etc. within two months. Once a positive recommendation is received from the concerned State Governments/UT Administrations, the individual proposals will be processed for grant in aid in consultation with IFD by the Programme Division.

In case the recommendation is not received within the prescribed period, the Ministry may obtain necessary feedback about the applicant institution in other appropriate ways (eg. from NSFDC/NSKFDC/Dr. Ambedkar Chairs under Dr. Ambedkar Foundation nearby, or by deputing a suitable officer from the Ministry for inspection).

4.3.1 In case of coaching centers run by Central/State Governments, the verification as mentioned in para 4.3 above may not be insisted upon.

5 Funding Pattern

5.1 The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India will fund the entire expenditure treating the Scheme as a Central Sector Scheme. It is intended to have an outlay of Rs.40 crores during 11th Plan period.

5.2 The grants-in-aid along with eligible amount of stipend for the students will be released directly to the institutions/centers concerned.

5.3 Grants-in-aid will be released to institutions concerned in two installments. The second installment will be released only after receiving a satisfactory inspection report from the State Government. However, institutions being run by State Government/UT administrations or by the Central Government would be exempt from such inspection.

6. Quantum of Fee

The Committee mentioned at paragraph 4.2 above will decide the fee structure for different examinations as well as duration of coaching after getting the market feedback every year. Accordingly, it will vary from year to year.

7. Eligibility of Students

7.1 The students should be selected based on merit;

7.2 The students must have secured percentage of marks in the qualifying examinations as prescribed for the course/examination for which free coaching is being imparted under the scheme;

7.3 Only students belonging to SCs and OBCs having total family income of Rs.2.00 lakh per annum will be eligible under the scheme;

7.4 Benefits under the scheme can be availed by a particular student not more than two times, irrespective of the number of chances; he/she may be entitled to in a particular competitive examination. The coaching institution will also required to take an affidavit from the student that they have not taken benefit more than twice under this scheme.

7.5 Where examination is conducted in two stages viz. Preliminary and Main, the SC and OBC candidates will be entitled for free coaching for both the examinations. However, coaching for the Main examination will be available only to those candidates who have cleared the preliminary examination; and

7.6 The selected students shall have to attend all classes. In the event of any student remaining absent for more than 15 days, without any valid reason, benefits of free coaching to him/her shall be discontinued and another students shall be taken in his/her place.

8. Ratio of Candidates

The ratio of SC and OBC students to be coached under the Scheme will be 70:30. In case of non-availability of candidates, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment can relax this ratio.

9. Selection of Candidates

With a view to give wider publicity, the coaching institute will issue advertisement in the local newspapers and invite applications from the eligible SC and OBC candidates as per provisions of the scheme. Thereafter, the selection of candidates will be made by the coaching institutes involving an officer (not below the rank of District Social Welfare Officer) to be nominated by the District Magistrate/ Deputy Commissioner concerned. The selection should be made ensuring candidates from different areas and observing the relevant provisions of the scheme.

10. Stipend

Stipend will be payable at the rate of Rs.1500 per student per month for outstation and Rs.750 per student per month for local students.

11. General Provisions

11.1 The eligible amount of stipend to the students will be paid by the institutions regularly on monthly basis by cheque under proper receipt.

11.2 The coaching institutes will admit such of the students only as are selected by the Committee indicated at paragraph 9 and will be paid grants-in-aid only in respect of such students.

11.3 The institute will send complete details about name, father’s name, date of birth, address, caste of the candidates, total family income etc. enrolled for each coaching programme within two weeks of starting the programme to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, New Delhi.

11.4 The institute shall maintain full record of progress for coaching and placement of the candidates.

11.5 Grants-in-aid released to the institutions shall be dealt with in a separate account by the institute.

11.6 The institutions shall utilize the grants-in-aid for specified purposes only. In the event of the grantee institution acting in contravention of this condition, the institution will be liable to refund the amount received with 18% penal interest and other action, as deemed necessary.

11.7 The institution shall abide by the terms and conditions laid down by the Ministry under the Scheme as well as the provisions of the General Financial Rules (GFR), 2005.

11.8 After conclusion of the coaching programme, the institution shall submit to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, within a month the Utilization Certificate and audited accounts certified by a Chartered Accountant. The audited accounts should include the following:

(i) Income and expenditure accounts/Balance Sheet including Receipts & Payments Account of the institution in respect of grants-in-aid received during the year; and
(ii) A certificate to the effect that the grantee institution has not received any other grant for the same purpose from any other Ministry/Department of the Government of India, State Government/UT Administration and any other Government/Non-Government organization.

12. Review and monitoring

The Union Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment through periodic reports from the institutions will review the progress of implementation of the scheme. The overall Scheme will be reviewed after 3 years i.e. in financial year 2010 – 2011.