New Delhi: The government has approved a 100 per cent Centrally sponsored scheme of post-matric scholarship to students belonging to minority communities.

The scheme, which was cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs last night, would be launched during the financial year 2007-08 targeting 15 lakh scholarships for the eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012) period. The post-matric scholarship scheme would involve a recurring expenditure of Rs 1,530 crore during the eleventh Five Year Plan and would be implemented by the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

The scholarships would be awarded to students from minority communities on a merit-cum-means criterion, studying in India either in government or private institutions notified by the state government, union territory administration or affiliated with the National Council for Vocational Training. The scheme would enable the meritorious students from minority communities pursue higher education and technical and vocational courses by making them more employable.

The purpose of the scholarship is to lift the economic condition of minority communities, which in turn would contribute to the economic development of the country.

Source : PTI