The Ministry is presently implementing the ‘National Scholarship Scheme for Persons with Disabilities’ from  the ‘National Fund for People with Disabilities’. The salient features of the scheme are:-

(i)        Financial assistance is given to students with at least 40% disabilities as per the provisions of the Persons with disabilities Act 1995, for pursuing post-Matric/Post-Secondary technical and professional courses including Ph.D & M.Phil from recognized institutions. However, for students with Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation, Multiple Disabilities, and Profound or Severe Hearing Impairment, the minimum education qualification is class-VIII pass and scholarships are awarded to them for pursuing general, technical, vocational or professional courses.

(ii)      Monthly family income (including income of the parent/guardian) of the beneficiary should not be more than Rs. 15,000/-.

(iii)    Scholarship of (a) 1000/- p.m. for hostellers and Rs. 700/- p.m. for day scholars studying in professional courses at graduation and above level, and (b) Rs. 700/- p.m. for hostellers and Rs. 400/- for day scholars pursuing Diploma/certificate level professional courses and students with Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation, Multiple Disabilities and Profound or Severe Hearing Impairment, for pursuing general/technical/vocational courses after Class-VIII. Course fee is also reimbursed up to a ceiling of Rs. 10,000/- per year.

(iv)  Up to five hundred Scholarships are given annually to different categories of disabled students as per National Scholarship Scheme.  Fifty percent of the scholarships are earmarked for female students.

No State-wise allocation of funds is made under the scheme.  The scheme is implemented through National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (NHFDC). Year-wise amount disbursed is given at Annexure-I.

Details are not maintained separately in respect of students of rural/urban areas.

ANNEXURE-I

YEAR-WISE DETAILS OF SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED

This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment,Shri D.Napoleon in the Lok Sabha today.

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VLK/sl