Maharashtra Govt. Offers Minorities Scholarships, Reimbursement of Fees

Mumbai:- The ministry of minority development, government of Maharashtra, is offering reimbursement of fees and scholarships for various professional, vocational and non-professional courses for the economically weaker and meritorious students belonging to the Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Sikh, Parsi and Jain minority communities.

Bombay Catholic Sabha (BCS), along with Muslims for Secular Democracy and several other non-governmental organisations, has partnered with the Maharashtra Minorities Welfare Department in motivating the minorities to apply and avail of these schemes, which cover the following.

1. Fee reimbursement for employment-oriented training programmes. The maximum amount under this scheme is Rs 4,000 per course. 2. Scholarships for post-SSC, post-HSC, professional diploma/degree/postgraduate courses. The maximum amount is Rs 25,000. 3. Scholarships for B.A./B.Sc/B.Com courses. The maximum amount is Rs 5,000.

The essential requirements and documents to be submitted are as follows:

a) Annual Income of parent/guardian of student: The annual income of the family should not exceed more than Rs. 2,50,000 ( two lakh fifty thousand) per annum. In case of self-employment a declaration on a non-judicial stamp paper or on plain paper affixing Rs 10 court fee or franked with Rs.10 stamp, detailing the annual income from all sources.  In case of those employed, a salary certificate from the employer or true copy of income tax returns.

b) Documents which need be  enclosed with application:

i. Attested certificates of educational qualifications.

ii. Proof of religion: If not stated in your school leaving certificate, then a declaration confirming your religious status.

iii. Proof of permanent address: Please attach any one of the documents: Domicile certificate/ ration card/ driving licence/ electricity bill/ Indian passport/ election ID card etc. Photocopy of the same should be attached, signed by the applicant/student to affirm that the same is a 'true copy'.

Declaration of religion (if not mentioned in the school leaving certificate) and annual income can be combined in a single declaration.

Declaration formats are available on the website.

c) Verification by head of institution/college: Students are required to fill in the prescribed form, attach supporting documents and submit it to their institution/college at the earliest. The institutions, in turn, are required to submit the same directly to the Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) by February 25.

The department has also requested the NGOs to help in publicising the scheme, making the forms available to students, guide/help them in filling the forms and submitting the same on behalf of the students with the DTE.

Bombay Catholic Sabha and other NGOs who have been interacting with officials concerned in the last two weeks. "We are keen on following this route as we will be able to track and pursue the matter with the authorities until the sanction decision is taken," Sabha president Dolphy D'Souza stated in a press release, February 16.