Funds meant for Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme siphoned off

Funds meant for Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme siphoned off

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Welfare schemes

In news

• A recent investigation has found that the money meant for poor students under the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme in Jharkhand has been siphoned off and is not reaching the students.

Important value additions 

Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme

• It is a centrally funded scholarship scheme for students in all states. 
• It opens every year and has to be applied between August and November.
• Aim: To help students of minority communities – Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Parsis, Jains and Buddhists having annual income below Rs. 1 lakh.
• Eligibility: Students need to score at least 50% in their class exams.
• It is given in two tiers every year: (1) Students in class 1 to 5: Rs. 1,000 per year; (2) Students of class 6 to 10: Rs. 10,700 if a hosteller or Rs 5,700 if a day scholar.