This is a programme that is run by the Central Sector of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, and it offers fellowships to 750 newly admitted ST students so that they can participate in M.Phil. and Ph.D. programmes. On the National Fellowship Portal, submissions of applications are now being accepted online. Here you may find the comprehensive guidelines of the scheme, the instruction manual, a list of universities, and any other information that might be required for filling out an application. The portal is connected to Digital Locker, so it can get documents that are already stored there. Additionally, the portal provides the ability to upload documents that are not yet stored on Digi locker. The site is integrated with all of the universities at which students are enrolled in fellowship programmes so that online verification of applicants’ credentials may be performed. The details of research scholar payments can also be viewed through the portal thanks to its connection with Canara Bank. On the portal, registered research scientists and universities can post questions and complaints about their experiences. There is the capability of delivering alerts and notifications to fellows and universities via individual or batch SMS and Emails. It is connected to the Dashboard so that monitoring may be performed on it. The following is a list of the scheme’s primary characteristics:
Students who are currently enrolled in Classes IX–X are eligible for this opportunity.
The total annual income of both parents, regardless of where it comes from, must not be more than 2.50 million rupees.
Day Scholars receive a scholarship in the amount of Rs.225/- per month, while Hostellers receive a scholarship in the amount of Rs.525/- per month. Both scholarships are paid out over the course of ten months per year.
Funds are distributed to the state governments and UTs by the central government in the proportion of 75:25, with the exception of the Northeastern and especially Categorised States and UTs, which receive funds in the proportion of 90:10. (UT of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand). The Centre provides a grant that is one hundred percent for the UT that does not have a legislature.
MINISTRY of SOCIAL JUSTICE
In 1999, following the division of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, this Ministry was established with the intention of offering a more targeted approach to the integrated socio-economic development of the Scheduled Tribes. This Ministry’s name derives from the Scheduled Tribes (STs).
The objectives of the Ministry’s various programmes and schemes are to provide assistance to other central ministries, state governments, and partly voluntary organisations; to support and supplement other central ministries, state governments, and voluntary organisations; and to fill critical gaps in institutions and programmes that take into account the situation of STs by providing financial support. The Ministry is in charge of administering these schemes, which include economic development, educational development, and social development through the building of institutions. The majority of the implementation of these schemes is done through the State Governments or Union Territory Administrations. In addition, the Ministry supplements the efforts of other Ministries by means of a variety of developmental interventions in essential sectors carried out by means of programmes that have been specifically designed.
SOCIAL JUSTICE & EMPOWERMENT
The belief that all people should have the same economic, political, and social rights and opportunities is what we mean when we talk about social justice. According to the National Association of Social Workers, the mission of social workers is “to remove barriers to access and opportunity for all people, with a particular focus on those who have the greatest need.” Social justice involves economic justice. The welfare, social justice, and empowerment of disadvantaged and marginalised sections of society, such as those classified as Scheduled Caste, Backward Classes, Persons with Disabilities, Senior Citizens, and Victims of Drug Abuse, etc., are all responsibilities that fall under the purview of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. This is going to be accomplished by embracing the concept of “social justice” in order to guarantee equal rights, access to benefits, and resources, and by embracing the concept of “empowerment” in order to make it possible for individuals to develop their potential and capacities as agents of social change by way of the process of planned development.
INTEGRATED SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The process by which a society’s social and economic structures evolve over time is referred to as socioeconomic development. Indicators of socioeconomic development include things like gross domestic product (GDP), life expectancy, literacy rates, and employment rates. It refers to the process by which a nation works to improve the economic, political, and social well-being of its population. Therefore, socio economic development can be understood as a process that involves improvement in a number of different areas. It is necessary for it to have an effect on all facets of human life in a country. The social standing or class of an individual or organisation is referred to as their socioeconomic status. It is frequently quantified by combining factors such as education level, income level, and occupation. Examining a person’s socioeconomic standing frequently reveals discrepancies in their access to resources, in addition to problems associated with privilege, power, and control.
Conclusion
The Scholarship Division of this Ministry offers financial aid to individual beneficiaries, states, and institutions in accordance with predetermined guidelines. About 30 lakh students from the Scheduled Tribes are eligible for financial help through direct bank transfer (DBT) thanks to these scholarship programmes.The following scholarship programmes are being offered to students from ST groups around the country by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
Under the programme, ST students who have completed their postgraduate studies are eligible to apply for fellowships that will allow them to pursue higher education at the master’s or doctoral level.