SCHOLARSHIP FOR 2500 DIFFERENTLY ABLED STUDENTS

1.	Objective:
1.1	The objective of the Scheme is to provide financial assistance to the differently-abled students to enable them to pursue professional or technical courses from recognized institutes and get employed/self-employed.
1.2	Differently-abled students face several barriers physical, financial, psychological, mental in pursuing studies and living with dignity. At times such students are deprived of harnessing their latent skills and thereby miss the opportunity to earn their livelihood and find a dignified place for themselves in the society. This scheme envisages encouraging differently-abled students by providing scholarships and other assistance to pursue professional or technical courses and various skill development courses for their empowerment.
2.	Number of Scholarships:
2.1	To start with every year 2500 scholarships will be provided to the differently-abled students throughout the country. 30% scholarships will be reserved for girls, which will be transferable to male students in case of non-availability of female candidates.
3.	Scope:
3.1	These scholarships will be available for studies in India, for all differently-abled students who are covered under the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunity, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 and the National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act, 1999. Only Indian Nationals will be eligible for scholarships.
4.	Rate of Scholarship and other benefits under the scheme:
4.1	The following benefits will be available under the scheme:-
(i)	Non-refundable fees shall be fully awarded in case of Government/Government-aided institution. In case of private Institutes the reimbursement would be restricted to similar courses in Government/Government-aided institutions.
(ii)	Maintenance allowance will be paid to the students for a period of 10 months only in one academic year at following rates.
	Class/Course Maintenance allowance (Rs. per month) Book/Stationery allowance (Rs. Per annum) Professional Graduate Courses 2500/- 6000/- Professional Post-Graduate courses 3000/- 10000/-
(iii)	Visual,Hearing and Orthopaedically handicapped differently-abled students, in addition will be provided aids and appliances, only once during lifetime, as given below :
	Visually Handicapped
	S.No. Appliance Estimated cost (up to) Remarks 1. Brailler / Brailler Typewriter Rs. 10,000 For blind 2. Laptop with Screen reading software Rs. 40,000 For blind 3. Laptop with Screen Magnification software Rs. 60,000 For low vision
	Hearing Handicapped
	S.No. Appliance Estimated cost (up to) 1. Binaural digital programmable hearing aid with annual provision of button cells Rs 50,000 + Rs 3600 p.a. 2. Cell phone with SMS SIM card Rs 5,000 3. Laptop with WiFi (Blue tooth) facility Rs 70,000
	Orthopaedically Handicapped
	S.No. Appliance Estimated cost (up to) 1. Laptop Rs. 40,000
5	Implementation of the Scheme
5.1	Conditions for Scholarship:
i)	Financial assistance will be given to pursue degree and/or post graduate level technical and professional courses from a recognized institution. Maintenance, book/stationary allowance and grant for purchase of assistive devices will be credited to the student's account. Non-refundable fees shall be reimbursed to the student on production of proof of deposit of fees or will be paid directly to the Institute under intimation to the student.
ii)	Scholarship will be awarded for only one course at a time.
iii)	Students who get admission to a college to pursue technical/professional courses, on the basis of a competitive examination will be eligible for the scholarship without any consideration of percentage of marks at higher secondary/graduation level.
iv)	Students who get admission in technical/professional courses without facing any competitive examination will also be eligible for scholarship. However, such students should have not less than 50% marks at higher secondary/graduation level. Selection of these students will be done strictly on merit basis.
v)	Students who pursue their education through correspondence would also be eligible for the scholarship.
vi)	Continuation of the scholarship in subsequent years will be subject to successful completion of the course during the preceding year. However, grace period of one year shall be admissible for the entire course in specified categories.
vii)	A candidate who is awarded scholarship for one course, after its completion will be eligible for another course too. However, the awardees will not be eligible for a similar or equivalent course.
viii)	A scholarship holder under this Scheme will not avail any other scholarship/stipend for pursuing the course.
ix)	The annual income of the beneficiary/parent or guardian of beneficiary should not exceed Rs. 3.00 lakh from all sources. However, preference shall be given to economically weaker students.
5.2	Other Conditions for the Scholarship:
i)	The scholarship is depended on the satisfactory progress and conduct of the scholar. If it is reported by the head of the Institution at any time that a scholar has by reasons of his/her own act of default failed to make satisfactory progress or has been guilty of misconduct such as resorting to or participating in strikes, irregularity in attendance without the permission of the authorities concerned etc., the authority sanctioning the scholarship may either cancel the scholarship or stop or withhold further payment for such period as it may think fit.
ii)	If a student is found to have obtained a scholarship by false statement, his/her scholarship will be cancelled forthwith and the amount of the scholarship paid will be recovered. The student concerned will be blacklisted and debarred for scholarship in any scheme forever.
iii)	A scholarship awarded may be cancelled if the scholar changes the subject of the course of study for which the scholarship was originally awarded or changes the Institution of study without prior approval of the Government. The amount already paid may also be recovered at the discretion of the Government.
iv)	A scholar is liable to refund the scholarship amount at the discretion of the Government if during the course of the year, the studies for which the scholarship has been awarded, is discontinued by him/her.
v)	A scholar is liable to refund the scholarship amount at the discretion of the Government if during the course of the year, the studies for which the scholarship has been awarded, is disconScholarship will not be paid for the period of internship/housemanship in the M.B.B.S. course or for a practical training in any course, if the student is in receipt of some remuneration during the internship period or some allowance/stipend during the practical training in any course.inued by him/her.
vi)	The conditions can be changed at anytime at the discretion of the Government of India.
6.	Publicity of the Scheme
	The Scheme will be given wide publicity over print and electronic media. Assistance of State Governments and other agencies such as UGC, Universities and prominent colleges and institutions will also be sought in giving publicity to the Scheme.
7.	Procedure for application
7.1	Application in enclosed prescribed format shall be submitted at any time during an academic year to the assigned agency. An advance copy of the application should also be submitted on line. Each applicant shall be given a registration number on receipt of the application. The screening committee shall examine these applications quarterly and the scholarship amount will be disbursed.
7.2	Renewal of the scholarship is in next year subject to successful completion of the course in the previous year. However, in case of students with cerebral palsy, mental retardation, mental illness, multiple disabilities and profound server hearing impairment, one year grace period may be allowed.
7.3	Along with the application the following enclosures will have to be furnished:
i)	Academic record – attested copies of relevant certificates/mark sheets for the qualifying examination.
ii)	Proof of annual income - Proof of income shall include last salary slip of parent/guardian, acknowledgement of income tax/income certificate e from revenue official/gazetted officer/public representative e.g. MP, MLA, MLC, Panchayat officials etc.;
iii)	Attested copy of Disability certificate;
iv)	Course fee receipt if any, duly paid during the academic session;
V)	Receipt/Invoice of eligible assistive devices duly countersigned by the authorized signatory of the institution;
vi)	In case of continuation of scholarship in a succeeding year, a copy of the mark sheet of the preceding year.
8.	Processing of applications
(a)	The procedure for processing of applications will be outsourced to a reputed agency;
(b)	All the applications will be processed in a time bound manner;
(c)	The applications scrutinized by the authorized agency shall be placed  before a screening committee periodically for final award of scholarships;
(d)	Income certificate is to be submitted by the student only once i.e. at the time of sanction of scholarship,
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