The central government has restricted the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme (PMSS) to Class 9 and Class 10 students only. Justifying its decision, news agency PTI quoted the government as saying, “RTE (right to education) covers compulsory education for all till class 8.”
It may be noted that earlier the pre-matric scholarship scheme also covered the education of students from class 1 to class 8. In a recent notice, the government also justified its decision by highlighting the fact that “The Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009 already provides for free and compulsory primary education (classes 1 to 8) for the government.” makes it imperative to do and ensure that every child
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“Accordingly, only students studying in classes 9 and 10 are covered under the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. Similarly from 2022-23 under the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme The coverage of Ministry of Minority Affairs will also be only for classes 9 and 10,” the notice said.
Following the recent development, the Institute Nodal Officers (INOs), District Nodal Officers (DNOs) / State Nodal Officers (SNOs) have been asked to verify the applications for Class I only under the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme of the Ministry of Minority Affairs has gone. 9 and 10, PTI reported.
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According to the report, the central government’s move has already started drawing criticism from various political parties. Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala has said that the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme is helping in the education of SC/ST children from class 1 to 8 and by stopping the scholarship from 2022-23, the government is conspiring against the poor.
BJP has been doing such things continuously for last 8 years whether it is cutting the budget of SC/ST/OBC and minorities or atrocities against them or ending their welfare schemes and now this. We do not accept this. We will launch a movement against it. Withdraw this decision immediately,” PTI quoted Surjewala as saying.
On the other hand, BSP leader Kunwar Danish Ali has claimed that the government has found a new way of depriving poor children of education by stopping scholarship. Ali tweeted, “Yes, don’t forget that educated children take the country forward irrespective of the community they belong to.”
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