The Government on Monday informed the Rajya Sabha that there was no proposal to make military education compulsory for three years after Class 12 for those seeking Government jobs besides armed forces or para-military forces.
This assurance was given by Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre in a written response to a question. He gave this reply to a query whether the Government proposes to make it mandatory for students after Class XII to take compulsory military education for three years before they are appointed in government jobs and armed or para-military forces.
Replying to another question about education facilities to children of defence personnel, he said about 5,500 children of armed forces personnel were selected for professional courses like MBBS and BTech since fiscal 2015-16 under the PM’s scholarship programme.
Amid ruckus created by TDP members in the Rajya Sabha over their demand for special category status for Andhra Pradesh, he said from 2015-16, a total 5,500 students are selected for professional degrees courses like B Tech, BE, BDS, MBBS, BEd, BBA, BCA and B Pharma only recognised by respective Government regulatory bodies.
The scholarship was introduced in 2006-2007 to encourage higher professional education for the dependent wards of ex- servicemen, ex-coast guard personnel and their widows below the officers rank, besides dependents, wards, widows of ex- servicemen who have died or become disabled in service irrespective of their rank, Bhamre said during Question Hour.
As regards medical facilities for ex-servicemen, Bhamre informed the members at present 426 poly clinics were functioning all over the country. There was now an effort to have a poly clinic in all the districts of the country for the benefit of ex-servicemen, he said.