Central scheme for ST girls to improve literacy level
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New Delhi: In an effort to raise the literacy level among tribal girls, the Government has decided to launch a Central scheme for strengthening education among Scheduled Tribe(ST) girls from April 2008. A meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, today, approved for a revised 100 per cent central gender specific scheme for ST girls in low literacy districts from 2007-08. An amount of Rs 298.79 crore has been earmarked for the scheme during the Eleventh Plan period, an official spokesperson said to the media person after the meeting. The scheme would be implemented in 54 identified districts where the ST population is 25 per cent or more, and ST female literacy rate below 35 per cent as per 2001 census, she informed. Any other tribal block in a district, other than the identified, where ST population is more as stipulated, would also be covered. In addition, the scheme would also cover areas below a block level (gram panchayats) inhabited by the notified Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs), she said adding that the naxal-affected areas would be given priority. The scheme will bridge the gap in literacy levels between the general female population and tribal women, through facilitating 100 per cent enrolment of tribal girls in the identified districts or blocks, more particularly in naxal affected areas and areas inhabited by PTGs", the spokesperson stated. The scheme would also help in reducing the dropouts at the elementary level by creating the required infrastructure and ambience for education with good health. Among other things, the revised scheme would provide assistance at the rate of Rs 26,000 per student per annum recurring and annual rent of building, improved rates for free meals, books and uniforms, stipend for tuition, proper health care and medical contingency and sports development. The revised scheme and the financial norms would be implemented from April 1, 2008, the spokesperson said.(PTI)
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