The “Jharkhand State Scheduled Tribe Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme” was introduced by the Department of Scheduled Tribe, Scheduled Caste, Minority, and Backward Class Welfare, Government of Jharkhand. The scheme aims to promote education and reduce dropout rates among Scheduled Tribe (ST) students. It provides financial assistance for students from Class 1st to 10th studying in government schools in Jharkhand by covering tuition fees, hostel expenses, and other educational costs.
Benefits
Financial Assistance
| S.No. | Class | Hostel Students (For 10 months) | Day Scholars (For 10 months) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1st to 5th | ₹1,500/- | ₹1,500/- |
| 2 | 6th to 8th | ₹2,000/- | ₹2,500/- |
| 3 | 9th to 10th | ₹4,500/- | ₹4,500/- |
Key Features
- Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): Scholarship is transferred directly to the student’s Aadhaar-linked bank account via Public Financial Management System (PFMS).
- Residential students receive a higher scholarship amount compared to non-residential students.
- Funding for Class 9th and 10th: The State Government (40%) and Central Government (60%) jointly fund the scholarship.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible, the applicant must:
- Be a resident of Jharkhand (applicant’s parents/guardians must be natives of Jharkhand).
- Be a Scheduled Tribe (ST) student.
- Be enrolled in a state government-recognized school.
- Income Criteria:
- Class 1st to 8th: No income limit.
- Class 9th and 10th: Annual family income should not exceed ₹2,50,000/-.
Application Process
Online Application Process (For Students)
- Document Preparation:
- Gather necessary documents such as Aadhaar card, caste certificate, income certificate (if applicable), and Aadhaar-linked bank account details.
- Submission to School:
- Submit the documents to the school principal for entry into the e-Kalyan portal.
- Aadhaar Authentication:
- Complete Aadhaar authentication to generate a unique ID for the application.
Application Process for Schools (Principal/Institute Nodal Officer – INO)
- Login Setup:
- Schools must register on the e-Kalyan portal using their UDISE code.
- Student Registration:
- The school head enters students’ details (Name, DOB, Aadhaar).
- New students must be registered upon enrollment.
- Aadhaar Authentication:
- Once Aadhaar authentication is completed, a unique ID is generated, which remains valid for subsequent years.
- Approval Workflow:
- Applications are verified by District Nodal Officers (DNOs) and forwarded to the District Level Approval Committee.
- Approved applications are sent to the State Nodal Officer (SNO) for final integration and payment processing.
- Scholarship Disbursement:
- Payment is made through the Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS) or PFMS/NACH for non-Aadhaar-linked accounts.
Documents Required
- Aadhaar Card (mandatory for authentication).
- Caste Certificate (issued by a competent authority).
- Income Certificate (for Class 9th and 10th applicants only).
- Bank Passbook (with Aadhaar-linked account details).
- Admission/Enrollment Certificate (from the school).
Note: The income certificate submitted in Class 9th remains valid for Class 10th.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Who can apply for the scholarship?
Students belonging to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category who are residents of Jharkhand and studying in government-recognized schools.
Q: Is there an income limit for eligibility?
- No income limit for students in Class 1st to 8th.
- Family income should not exceed ₹2,50,000/- for Class 9th and 10th.
Q: Who approves the scholarship applications?
- Applications are first verified by District Nodal Officers (DNOs).
- They are then forwarded to the District Level Approval Committee and finally approved by the State Nodal Officer (SNO).
Q: What happens if the student’s bank account is not linked with Aadhaar?
Scholarship payments are made through Aadhaar-linked bank accounts via APBS. If an account is not linked with Aadhaar, the payment will be processed through PFMS/NACH.
Q: How can I track the status of my application?
Applicants can check their status by logging into the e-Kalyan portal and entering their unique ID or Aadhaar number.
Q: Who conducts monitoring and audits of the scheme?
The Jharkhand Welfare Department conducts periodic monitoring and audits to ensure transparency in disbursement.
Q: How can I apply for the scholarship?
Students should submit their application through their respective school principals who will register the application on the e-Kalyan portal.
Q: What is the role of the school in the application process?
The school principal acts as the Institute Nodal Officer (INO) who registers and verifies student applications before forwarding them for approval.
Q: How is the scholarship amount disbursed?
The amount is transferred directly into the student’s Aadhaar-linked bank account via DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer).
Q: What is the approval process at the district level?
- District Nodal Officers (DNOs) verify applications.
- Applications are reviewed by the District Level Approval Committee.
- Approved applications are sent to the State Nodal Officer (SNO) for disbursement.