Programs in News: Union Minister of social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar launched the Scheme SHRESTHA (Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas) Scheme.
Union Minister of social Justice and empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar launched the Scheme “SHRESHTA”-Scheme for residential education for students in High school in Targeted Areas. The Scheme for Residential Education for Students in Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA) has been formulated with the objective to provide quality education and opportunities for even the poorest.
About SHRESHTHA scheme
- This scheme was launched for Scheduled Castes, as they have faced historical injustices in a hierarchical based society and education is the most powerful tool to empower them as a community.
- Scheme will provide a level playing field to the poor and meritorious SC students.
- It was launched with the aim of providing quality education & opportunities to 3,000 students, who belongs to scheduled caste category.
- It envisions high quality free residential education for meritorious SC students of class 9th to class 12th to meritorious students from SC communities.
- Admission will be provided in Class 9 and Class 11 of CBSE affiliated private schools.
Who will be covered under the scheme?
- The students, belonging to Scheduled Castes, studying in class 8th and 10th in the current academic year (2021-22) are eligible for availing the benefits of the scheme.
- Students from the SC community who come from a marginalized income group with an annual income of up to Rs.2.5 lakh are eligible.
Selection of students
- Approximately 3000 students will be selected through National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS).
- It will be conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) f
- They will be admitted in Best Private Residential-CBSE affiliated School in classes 9th and 11th, for completion of education till 12th standard.
- The best performing private residential-CBSE affiliated schools will be selected on the basis of specific parameters.
- Entire cost of school fee and hostel fee as well as food charges will be borne by the government.
Maximum limits set to cover all these expenses are
- 9th class: 1,00,000 Rs p.a. per student
- 10th class: 1,10,000 Rs p.a. per student
- 11th class: 1,25,000 Rs p.a. per student and
- 12th class: 1,35,000 Rs p.a. per student
Provision of Bridge Course
Another feature of this scheme is the “provision for bridge course”. This will help students in adapting to the new school environment. This course will be provided for 3 months to students from state schools and rural areas.
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