SHRESHTA SCHEME

Subject: Schemes

Section: Marginalised section

Context:

Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri A. Narayanaswamy in a written reply in Lok Sabha, mentioned about the objectives of the Shreshta scheme.

Objectives of the scheme:

The objective of SHRESHTA is to enhance the reach of development Intervention of the Government and to fill the gap in service deficient SCs dominant areas, in the sector of education through the efforts of grant-in-aid institutions (run by NGOs) and residential high schools offering high quality education.
It aims to provide an environment for socio economic upliftment and overall development of the Scheduled Castes (SCs) by providing financial assistance to best private residential schools affiliated by CBSE/ State Board in class 9th & 11th for completion of education till 12th standard.
Financial assistance is also provided to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)/ Voluntary Organisations (VOs) for running residential, non-residential schools and hostels having adequate infrastructure and maintaining good academic quality for SC students.

Provision of Bridge course:

There is provision of Bridge course in the scheme to ensure that the SC students admitted can catch up with the rest of the class.
Bridge courses target enhancing the capability of the student to easily adapt to the environment of the school.
Provisions have been incorporated for a bridge course in the selected schools for students selected under the Scheme, outside-the-school-hours after identifying the individual academic requirements.
The cost of bridge course i.e. 10% of annual fee shall also be borne by the Department.
The progress of the students would be monitored by the Ministry from time to time.

Various modes under the scheme:

The scheme is being implemented in two Modes.

MODE-1:

In mode-I, each year a specified number of meritorious SC students around 3000 in States/UTs are selected through the National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS) conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and admitted in the private residential schools affiliated to CBSE/State Boards.
Under the mode 1 of the scheme, students are admitted in 9th and 10th class and financial assistance is provided for them till completion of education upto 12th standard.
Thereafter, students may take benefits under Post Matric Scholarship or Top Class Education Scheme to continue their further studies for securing their future opportunities.

MODE-2:

Under mode-2, financial assistance is provided to the NGOs for running the schools/hostel projects related to the Education sector to Scheduled Caste students.
13500 slots every year have been marked for SC students.

Other provisions in the scheme

Selection of schools:

Best performing CBSE based private residential schools, having more than 75% pass percentage for class 10 and 12 for the last three years are selected by a Committee for admission of selected students.

Selection of students:

Approx 3000 (1500 for 9th class and 1500 for class 11th tentative) SC students, whose parents annual income is upto 2.5 lakh.
They will be selected every year under the Scheme through a national level test conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA), choices of schools shall be offered to the students in accordance with their merit.
Total fee for the student covering the school fee (including tuition fees) and hostel fee (including mess charges) would be borne by the Department.