If numbers don’t lie, then Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s claim of inclusive growth with social justice agenda is nothing more than a mirage.
Information received in response to an RTI query filed by Amitava Choudhury of West Bengal revealed that the state, which has the third largest Scheduled Caste (SC) population in the country, is one of the worst performers in terms of providing central grant for SC and other backward castes students.
The data forwarded by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment regarding its central scheme, popularly known as ‘Free Coaching for SC and OBC Students’ reveals that the Ministry has received only one proposal from Bihar government with a list of 950 students from SC and OBC category for 2013 to 2016. This is despite the fact that 100 per cent expenditure will be borne by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment which has already spent nearly `22 crore in the last three years on the scheme.
The main objective of the scheme is to ensure qualitative coaching for group A and B examinations conducted by the UPSC, SSC and state PSC for smooth integration of students from weaker section into the national mainstream.
The scheme is implemented through the reputed coaching institutions or centres run by the State Governments, universities and private institutions. Interestingly, other states appear to be far more active in extending central schemes to targeted beneficiaries. The RTI response is likely to further embarrass Nitish because Narendra Modi’s Gujarat has forwarded 37 proposals listing 53,000 students to receive the central grant. Gujarat is also ranked third among the list of 24 states and Union Territories.
As many as 92 proposals with 1,51,000 students were received from Maharashtra while Madhya Pradesh with 52 proposals consisting of 82,160 students is ranked second overall.
Information received in response to an RTI query filed by Amitava Choudhury of West Bengal revealed that the state, which has the third largest Scheduled Caste (SC) population in the country, is one of the worst performers in terms of providing central grant for SC and other backward castes students.
The data forwarded by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment regarding its central scheme, popularly known as ‘Free Coaching for SC and OBC Students’ reveals that the Ministry has received only one proposal from Bihar government with a list of 950 students from SC and OBC category for 2013 to 2016. This is despite the fact that 100 per cent expenditure will be borne by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment which has already spent nearly `22 crore in the last three years on the scheme.
The main objective of the scheme is to ensure qualitative coaching for group A and B examinations conducted by the UPSC, SSC and state PSC for smooth integration of students from weaker section into the national mainstream.
The scheme is implemented through the reputed coaching institutions or centres run by the State Governments, universities and private institutions. Interestingly, other states appear to be far more active in extending central schemes to targeted beneficiaries. The RTI response is likely to further embarrass Nitish because Narendra Modi’s Gujarat has forwarded 37 proposals listing 53,000 students to receive the central grant. Gujarat is also ranked third among the list of 24 states and Union Territories.
As many as 92 proposals with 1,51,000 students were received from Maharashtra while Madhya Pradesh with 52 proposals consisting of 82,160 students is ranked second overall.
Source: IE
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