Scheme for Free Bicycles for Class IX Girl Students Belonging to Minority Communities

New Delhi, August 13, 2012: The Working Group constituted by the Planning Commission for 12th Five Year Plan has recommended for “ Scheme for free Bicycle for class IX girl students belonging to Minority Communities”.

The scheme is under consideration of the Planning Commission for in principle approval.

Giving this information in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today, Vincent H. Pala, Minister of State for Minority Affairs, said that government has decided to continue the schemes for educational empowerment of the notified minority communities including girl students during the 12th Five Year Plan period. These include Pre-Matric Scholarship, Post-Matric Scholarship and Merit cum Means based Scholarship schemes and Maulana Azad National Fellowship for Minority Students.

Under all these schemes, minimum of 30% scholarships have been earmarked for eligible girl students from minority communities. Maulana Azad Education Foundation also provides scholarships to meritorious minority girls. Under the Multi Sectoral Development Programme the government has been providing financial assistance to the Minority Concentration Districts to construct girls’ hostels and provide additional class rooms.