The Post-Matric Scholarship to VJNT students is an initiative by the Government of Maharashtra to encourage students from the Vimukta Jatis & Nomadic Tribes (VJNT) category to pursue Post-Matric education. The scheme was launched by the government to help VJNT students gain access to higher education by providing financial support for various expenses including tuition fees, exam fees, and maintenance allowance.
Objective:
The primary goals of this scheme are:
- Encourage Post-Matric education among VJNT students.
- Provide financial assistance to students from this category to pursue higher education.
- Create a passion for higher education and provide equal opportunities for VJNT students.
- Help students integrate into the mainstream educational system.
Under this scheme, eligible students are provided maintenance allowance ranging from ₹90 to ₹190 per month for hostellers and ₹150 to ₹425 per month for day scholars.
Benefits:
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Maintenance Allowance:
VJNT students are eligible for the following maintenance allowances:- Group A (For professional courses): ₹425 per month for hostellers, ₹190 per month for day scholars.
- Group B & C (Non-professional and other courses): ₹290 per month for hostellers, ₹190 per month for day scholars.
- Group D: ₹230 per month for hostellers, ₹120 per month for day scholars.
- Group E: ₹150 per month for hostellers, ₹90 per month for day scholars.
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Tuition Fees & Exam Fees:
100% coverage for both tuition fees and exam fees for students enrolled in government, aided, and non-aided institutions for professional and non-professional courses. -
B.Ed and D.Ed Courses:
Full benefits (100%) of tuition fees, exam fees, and maintenance allowance are provided for students pursuing B.Ed and D.Ed courses, both in aided and unaided institutions, with fees as per government rates. -
Government Hostel Admission:
If a student is admitted to a government hostel, they are eligible for 1/3rd of the maintenance allowance.
Eligibility:
To be eligible for the Post-Matric Scholarship, the following conditions must be met:
- Income Criteria: The parent’s/guardian’s annual income should be less than or equal to ₹1.50 lakh.
- Category: Only VJNT students are eligible for this scheme.
- Residency: Applicants must be residents of Maharashtra.
- Educational Requirements: Students must be enrolled in a government-approved course from post-matric onward.
- Attendance: A minimum 75% attendance is mandatory for eligibility.
- Promotion Condition: If a student fails a year, the scholarship will be disbursed only if they are promoted to the next higher class.
Exclusions:
- Students who are engaged in full-time employment are not eligible.
- Repeaters are not eligible for the scholarship for the same academic year.
- No scholarship will be provided to students who accept another scholarship or stipend.
Application Process:
Online:
- Registration: Visit the official website MAHADBT Portal.
- Login: If already registered, login with your credentials; otherwise, register as a new user.
- Fill the Profile: After registration, complete the profile by filling in your personal details and academic information.
- Apply for Scheme: After completing the profile, apply for the eligible schemes.
Documents Required:
- Caste Certificate (Issued by the competent authority of Maharashtra).
- Income Certificate (Issued by the competent authority).
- Caste Validity Certificate (Mandatory for professional degree courses).
- HSC/SSC Marksheets or Last Examination Marksheets.
- Gap Certificate (If applicable).
- Father/Guardian’s Death Certificate (If applicable).
- Ration Card (For identification of the number of children in the family).
- Leaving Certificate.
- Declaration Certificate of Parents/Guardians regarding the number of children benefitting from the scheme.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Q1: What is the maintenance allowance given to VJNT students?
A1: Maintenance allowances are ₹90 to ₹425 per month based on the course group of the student and whether the student is a hosteller or a day scholar.
Q2: What additional benefits are provided to the students apart from the maintenance allowance?
A2: Benefits include paying tuition fees and examination fees for professional and non-professional courses, and full benefit for courses like B.Ed and D.Ed.
Q3: Can a student be considered for the scholarship if they are admitted to a government hostel?
A3: Yes, students admitted in government hostels will be covered for 1/3rd of the amount of maintenance allowance.
Q4: What are the advantages for students pursuing B.Ed and D.Ed courses?
A4: Students pursuing B.Ed and D.Ed courses are covered with 100% benefits such as tuition fee, exam fee, and maintenance allowance.
Q5: What is the rate of fee for students pursuing D.Ed and B.Ed in aided and unaided institutions?
A5: The rate of fee will be government rates for D.Ed and B.Ed courses.
Q6: Who can apply under the scheme?
A6: Only VJNT category students pursuing government-approved educational courses in government-approved educational institutions are eligible under the scheme.
Q7: Is the scheme applicable only to VJNT students pursuing government-approved educational courses?
A7: Yes, only students studying government-approved courses are eligible.
Q8: What is the parent’s/guardian’s annual income to be eligible for the scheme?
A8: The parent’s/guardian’s annual income should not be more than ₹1.50 lakh.
Q9: Will the scholarship be continued if a student fails in a specific academic year?
A9: The scholarship will be retained only if the student is upgraded to the subsequent higher class. Failure leads to forfeiture of benefits for that year.
Q10: What attendance is needed for the scholarship?
A10: Students need a minimum of 75% attendance to qualify.
Q11: How do I apply under the scheme?
A11: Apply through the MAHADBT portal by registering and submitting the application form.
Q12: How should the steps to follow when applying for the scheme be done?
A12: Join the portal, fill in your profile, and apply for the scheme. Post the required documents and submit.
Q13: On what conditions will the renewal of the scholarship be made?
A13: The scholarship would be renewed in case the student has passed the previous year’s exam and gotten promotion to the next higher class.
Sources and References:
- Website: MAHADBT Portal