To improve the attendance rate of girls in its schools, Punjab Government has disbursed Rs 507.97 crore attendance scholarship to 1.01 lakh primary girl students of others backward classes in the educational institutions.
“From the period of commencement till March 2016, the Punjab Government has provided financial aid of Rs 507.97 crore to 1,01,595 primary girl students of others backward classes under attendance scholarship,” said the state SC/BC Welfare Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike on Friday.
He said that this scheme was introduced under State Plan for the OBC’s girl students of economically weaker families in the State.
“It is a hard fact that the parents or guardians, who belong to economically weaker section mostly are not interested to educate their female child and even after getting admission in a school, she is compelled to leave the studies and assist her parents to contribute for family income by performing nominal jobs,” said the Minister.
“Keeping these circumstances in view, the State Government had decided to introduce incentive in the form of Attendance Scholarships to check the dropout tendency among the girl students,” said Ranike. He said that under this scheme, the monthly attendance scholarship was being provided per student for 10 months in a year. As per eligible criteria, the parents or guardians should not tax payer and they do not have more than five acre of land.