http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-27/patna/29194398_1_atm-card-lakh-students-class-xi-and-xii
Students to get e-scholarship now
TNN, Mar 27, 2011, 06.22am IST
PATNA: The Bihar government on Saturday introduced an innovative
scheme of providing scholarship to college students belonging to
Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), EBC and backward classes
through e Z-Pay card. Bihar is second state after Andhra Pradesh to
introduce this scheme.
Chief minister Nitish Kumar handed over the cards to some of the
beneficiaries at a function here. In the first phase, 2.50 lakh
students are being provided this ATM card for which the government has
made agreement with the SBI. The students were in a jubilant mood and
they experimented with their ATM cards at a specially set up ATM unit
at Samwad where the function was held.
The CM said through the scheme, the monthly scholarship will be
deposited in the account of each beneficiary and the students would be
able to draw the money from ATMs by using their cards. This will
rescue them from unnecessary harassment and save their time running
from one place to another.
"This is a post-matric scheme and later it will be extended to school
students too," Nitish announced. He said the stipend had been raised
three times and may be increased further in future. The aim of the
scholarship is that the students should continue with their higher
education and should not drop out due to financial restrain.
The CM, however, said he did not have good experience with the banks
who initially had not cooperated with opening of account for school
girls who were being paid money for purchasing uniform and bicycle. He
said he rejected the idea of giving stitched uniform and bicycle to
them as it could lead to scams. That was why he decided to give cash
to the students for the purpose.
He advised the students to utilize the money properly and continue
with their education, but he did not discourage them from indulging in
some fun and frolic though.
SC, ST, EBC and backward classes welfare department secretary Ravi
Parmar said 2.50 lakh beneficiaries had been provided with e Z-Pay
card in the first phase. In the second phase, Parmar said, students
from Class VII would be included in the scheme and then about a
million students belonging to the group would get this pre-paid card
which has a 10-year validity. The beneficiaries need not open bank
account.
He said presently the students were getting monthly stipend between Rs
300 and 700 depending on their class and stream; likewise students of
Class XI and XII were getting Rs 300 while students of technical
education get Rs 700 per month. This card could be used at any of
23,000 SBI ATMs, he added.
"We will also include the beneficiaries of Mukhya Mantri Chhatra Vriti
Yojna under this scheme. The students of SC, ST, EBC and backward
classes get Rs 10,000 on passing matric exam with first division. This
time the incentive will also be paid through cards," Parmar said.
Earlier, minister of SC, ST welfare Jitan Ram Manjhi and minister of
EBC and backward classes welfare Hari Prasad Sah thanked the CM for
introducing the scheme saying it will encourage the students from poor
and backward sections of society.
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