To encourage girls to continue their school education, the government has been taking several initiatives, and scholarship is one of them. Maulana Azad Education Foundation under the Ministry of Minority Affairs started Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship for girl students belonging to the minority communities in 2003-04. Under the scheme, the Foundation provides financial assistance to meritorious girl students from Jain, Muslim, Parsi, Sikh, Christian and Buddhist communities, who cannot continue their education due to lack of financial support. The National Scholarship Portal (NSP) is the implementing agency of the scholarship.
“Candidates shortlisted for the scholarship are offered financial assistance of Rs 5000 on yearly basis for both class IX and X and Rs 6000 for class XI and XII as one-time financial assistance in each academic year,” says a source on condition of anonymity.
The amount received under the scholarship can be used for expenditure on payment of school/college fee, purchase of syllabus books, stationery or equipment required for the course and payment of boarding/lodging charges.
As per the data available on the ministry’s website, till date 8,84,864 girl students have been assisted with Rs 669.36 crore by the Foundation. According to the source, out of total six notified minorities, highest number of applicants are from Muslim community while Jain community applicants are lowest in number. On why lowest applications from Jains, the source reasons that majority of them are financially strong which led to fewer applications for the scholarship.
Last year, almost around 2 lakh total applications were received by the Foundation for the scholarship, informs the source.
Selection process
Students are shortlisted based on percentage of marks obtained by them in qualifying exam and parent’s/ guardian’s annual income which should not exceed Rs 2 lakh. To avail the scholarship, beneficiaries need to apply afresh for each class. There is provision for renewal.
Other than Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship, CBSE Merit Scholarship Scheme for Single Girl Child is offered by the Board. The number of CBSE Merit Scholarship Scheme for a particular year shall be variable and be awarded to all eligible candidates who have secured 60% or more marks in the CBSE class X examination in that year. Under the scheme, Rs 500 is given on a monthly basis for a period of maximum two years.
Support for NDA exam
Recently, Tripura government has inked an MoU with an Edtech platform to help girl students to prepare for NDA exam. A total of 250 girl students will be offered one-year free subscription for defence exams by Unacademy.
