April 1, 2022
Pratima Mondal’s Zero Hour mention wanting to know why the govt has reduced NOS Scheme scholarships
Hon. Chairperson, Sir, the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment provides funding for students from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and landless agricultural labourer families to pursue post-graduate education in top-ranked foreign universities. It is disheartening to note that the Scheme provides the scholarship only to 125 students per year whereas the total number of students going abroad every year is 5.5 million. Further, Sir, if you see the record, only 39 in 2021, 76 in 2020, 46 in 2019, and 15 in 2018 were actually awarded the scholarship. The hon. Minister owes an answer for such low numbers of students. Is
the Government trying to imply that meritorious students even did not apply for this scholarship? Why were 125 students not given the opportunity every year? Moreover, the Government, without any consultation and just two months before, has stated that it will no longer fund the students who want to study culture and heritage of India from abroad. The Government is again creating a divide and intending to keep the marginalised at their current position. So, the Government must immediately look into the matter and let the House know the reasons behind such steps and statistics.
