Over the last three years, between 2016-17 and 2018-19, there has been a gradual increase in the number of students from the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category joining universities abroad availing the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme (NOSS) run by the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry. Still, the minuscule slot of 20 seats under the Scheme didn’t get filled up. In the last three years, only 2, 12 and 16 students respectively could avail the benefit of the NOSS.
Taking exception to the poor performance of the scheme, a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Welfare in its report tabled in Parliament recently has asked the Ministry to spread awareness about the scheme that aims to provide financial assistance to students selected for pursuing higher studies abroad for Post Graduate, Ph.D. and Post-Doctoral Research Programme.
Under the scheme 17 awards are sanctioned to ST students and 3 to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) students per year. Total 20 students are benefitted through this scheme.
“Lack of awareness among the ST students could also be one of the reasons for weak performance of the scheme,” said the panel, headed by Lok Sabha member Rama Devi.
It gave specific instance of Assam. “For instance, the Tribal Department website of Assam Government gives a one-line information on the scholarship scheme and the window for application just shows that it will be notified shortly. The Committee is appalled at such apathy of a few State Governments towards the welfare of STs and feel that the Ministry should have been alert to such lapses,” said the panel.
It has now asked the Ministry to carry out an inspection of all State Government websites to ensure maximum publicity of all ST welfare schemes including the scholarship scheme.
The panel also expressed its displeasure at the Ministry’s reply that said, “The observation/recommendation of the committee has been noted for compliance” without mentioning any steps taken by them actually in this regard.
“The Committee feels that availability of latest information pertaining to all the Schemes including Scholarship schemes on the State Government’s websites is a very important step for awareness generation among the tribal students of the State,” the panel said while asking the Ministry to submit a report in this direction at the earliest.