India 2018

562 India 2018
(iii) Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship: The merit-cum means based scholarship
scheme is a central sector scheme launched in 2007. 100 per cent scholarship
expenditure is being borne by the central govemment. Scholarships are awarded
for pursuing professional and technical courses, at undergraduate and postgraduate
levels, in institutions recognized by appropriate authority. Under the
scheme, 60,000 fresh scholarships are proposed to be awarded every year in
addition to the renewals. 30 per cent of these scholarships are earmarked for
girl students, which may be utilized by eligible boy students, if adequate
numbers of eligible girl students are not available. 85 institutes for professional
and technical courses have been listed in the scheme, Eligible students from the
minority communities admitted to these institutions are reimbursed full course
fee. A course fee of ` 20,000 per annum is reimbursed to students studying in
other institutions. Besides, a student is also eligible for maintenance allowance
of up to ` 10,000/- p.a. To be eligible, a student should have secured admission
in any technical or professional institution, recognized by an appropriate
authority. In case of students admitted without a competitive examination,
students should have secured not less than 50 per cent marks. The annual income
of the family from all sources should not exceed ` 2.50 lakh.
National Commission for Minorities
The Minorities Commission which was set up in 1978 became a statutory body
with the enactment of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 and
renamed as the National Commission for Minorities. The first statutory National
Commission was set up in 1993. The NCM Act, 1992 was amended in 1995
which provided for a Vice Chairperson in the Commission. With the 1995
amendment, the Commission's composition was expanded to 7 members
(including a Chairperson and a Vice Chairperson). The provision under Section
3(2) of the Act stipulates that five members including the Chairpersons shall be
from amongst the minority communities.
O. W.: http://www.ncm.nic.in
State Commission ion for Minorities
Thirteen state governments namely Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar,
Chhattisgarh, Government of NCT of Delhi, Jharkhand, Karnataka,
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and West
Bengal have set up statutory commissions for minorities. Manipur and
Uttarakhand have set up non-statutory commissions.
National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities
Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities
The Office of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities (CLM) was established
in 1957. in pursuance of the provision of Article 350-B of the Constitution.
Article 350-B envisages investigation by CLM of all matters relating to the
safeguards provided for the linguistic minorities in India under the Constitution