GOINON-FCRA PROJECT
NON-FCRA PROJECT: CENTRALLY SPONSORED SCHEME OF CONSTRUCTION OF HOSTEL FOR OBC BOYS AND GIRLS
Background
- The Centrally-sponsored Scheme for Construction of Hostels for OBC Boys and Girls is being implemented since 1998-99 to address the problem of educational backwardness of OBCs. Very often, students from rural areas, especially those belonging to the weaker sections, discontinue their studies because of lack of secondary schools and colleges nearby and non-availability of adequate hostel facilities, at a reasonable cost, at places where such educational institutions are located. Therefore, the Scheme was initiated with a view to facilitate continuation of education by students belonging to OBCs, especially those hailing from rural and remote areas and from poor families. Since the inception of the Scheme, upto 2009-10, Central assistance for construction of 811 hostels for OBC students has been sanctioned.
- The funding pattern for construction of hostels under the scheme provided for cost sharing between the Central and State Governments in the ratio of 50:50, with 100% funding to UTs and Central Government Institutions like Central Universities.
- The Scheme has been revised w.e.f. 2010-11. Guidelines of the revised Scheme are given below.
- The Scheme aims at providing hostel facilities to students belonging to socially and educationally backward classes, especially from rural areas, to enable them to pursue secondary and higher education.
The following important
changes have been incorporated in the Scheme, as revised from 2010-11:-
- Earlier, only State Governments, UT Administrations and Universities were eligible for Central assistance. Now, NGOs with a good track record will also be eligible.
- Enhancement of Central assistance to North-Eastern States & Sikkim from 50% to 90%.
- Indicative physical norms have been laid down for a typical 100 seater hostel with a view to improving the quality and "liveability" of hostels to be constructed henceforth, and to introduce a degree of uniformity in the physical norms across the country, and
- Introduction of a one-time non-recurring grant of Rs.2500/- per seat for providing furniture/equipment to the hostels constructed under the Scheme.
- Agencies Eligible for Assistance under the revised Scheme Agencies eligible for financial assistance under the revised Scheme will be as follows:-
- State Governments and UT Administrations;
- Institutions or organizations set up by the Central Government as autonomous bodies under a statute (e.g. Central Universities, IIT, NIT,etc.) or as Societies under the Registration of Societies Act, 1860, orotherwise;
- Well-established NGOs with a good track record in implementation of development schemes for OBCs, especially in the education sector. These organizations should have been registered for at least two years at the time of applying for grant under the Scheme.
While sanctioning hostels,
priority will be given to:-
- Regions/districts not covered so far, and Districts/towns having a large number of educational institutions.
- As far as possible, hostels will be constructed in close vicinity of educational institutions.
- Assistance will be provided for construction of 100 seater hostels, at the maximum. Proposals for construction of hostels with lesser capacity (e.g. 25 or 50) would also be considered.
Students fulfilling the
following eligibility criteria may be allotted seats in Hostels constructed
under the Scheme:-
- Students whose castes are included in the Central/State/UT list of Backward Classes and who do not belong to the "creamy layer".
- Hostels would be essentially for post matric students. However, if there are vacant seats, pre-matric students especially of the secondary level, would also be eligible to be accommodated.
- Other things, being equal preference will be given to OBC students hailing from low income families.
- At least 5% of the total seats should be reserved for students with disabilities.
