Posted On: 2022-03-15 15:40:47
The youth of India is its most valuable resource, our billion-strong nation needs nurture and care in the form of basic education to achieve a better quality of life. Education is an important part of any society as it provides direction, social status, worldly knowledge, and the chance to explore. Quality education increases the propensity for better employment opportunities. It not only makes a smart, informed population but also boosts economic growth and increases the GDP of a country. However, with a population of a billion, people are facing numerous challenges such as poverty and a lack of educational facilities in rural areas, the government has implemented several programs; to support the need for providing quality and equal educational opportunities to all citizens.
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), which was launched in 2001, is one of India's key flagship programs for universalizing elementary education. Its overall objectives include establishing universal access and retention, closing gender and social category inequities in elementary education, and significantly improving children's learning levels. This program is also an attempt to provide an opportunity for improving human capabilities to all children through the provision of community-owned quality education in a mission mode. It is a response to the demand for basic quality education all over the country. The scheme is being implemented in collaboration with state governments and targets 192 million children across the country in 1.1 million households.
Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS)
In keeping with the Constitutional provisions to raise the level of nutrition of children and enable them to develop in a healthy manner, the National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE) was launched as a Centrally sponsored scheme in 1995. Commonly referred to as MDMS, this was expected to enhance enrolment, retention, attendance of children in schools apart from improving their nutritional levels. Initially, the scheme was implemented in 2,408 blocks of the country to provide food to students in classes one through five of government, government-aided and local body run schools. By 1997–98, the scheme had been implemented across the country. Initially, the scheme was implemented in 2,408 blocks of the country to provide food to students in classes one through five of government, government-aided and local body run schools. By 1997–98, the scheme had been implemented across the country.
Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan aims to provide education to the underprivileged section for improving their life and widening income opportunities. It also aims to improve the quality of secondary education by making all secondary schools conform to prescribed norms, removing gender, socio-economic and disability barriers, and providing universal access to secondary level education. The objective of the scheme is to generate human capital and provide sufficient conditions for growth and improve the standard of living in India. The scheme involves multidimensional research, technical consulting, implementation, and funding support.
The Union Budget, 2018-19, has proposed to treat school education holistically without segmentation from pre-nursery to Class 12. Samagra Shiksha - an overarching program for the school education sector that extends from pre-school to class 12, therefore, prepares the broader goal of improving school effectiveness measured in terms of equal opportunities for schooling and equitable learning outcomes. It subsumes the three erstwhile Schemes of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), and Teacher Education (TE). The major objectives of the Scheme are the provision of quality education and enhancing learning outcomes of students; Bridging Social and Gender Gaps in School Education; Ensuring equity and inclusion at all levels of school education; Ensuring minimum standards in schooling provisions; Promoting Vocationalisation of education; Support States in implementation of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.
The Scheme helps improve the growth rates across the various levels of school education and aid in promoting universal access to children to complete school education.
The scheme was launched to promote enrollment of girls in the age group of 14-18 years to encourage secondary education among girls. A sum of
Rs. 3,000/- is deposited in the name of eligible girls as a fixed deposit in a public sector bank or post office. The girls are entitled to withdraw the sum along with interest upon reaching 18 years of age and on passing the 10th class examination. The term period of the deposit will be counted from the date of deposit to the date on which the girl attains the age of 18 years. No premature withdrawal will be allowed.
Applicants can Apply for the scholarship by visiting the home page of the National Scholarship portal and clicking on the ‘Department of School Education and Literacy’ link.
National Programme for Education of Girls at Elementary Level
NPEGEL is implemented in educationally backward blocks (EBBs) and caters to the requirements of both in and out-of-school girls. It also helps girls who are enrolled in school but cannot attend regularly. The scheme emphasizes teachers' responsibilities to identify vulnerable females and devote extra attention to them to help them overcome their susceptibility and avoid dropping out. The scheme follows an extra-ordinary curriculum for its beneficiaries that cover multiple components like:
Personality Development Camp
Vocational Training
Sports Equipments Distribution
Bicycle procurement and Distribution
Library Books Distribution
Teacher training
Nutrition and School Health
Community Mobilisation
The scheme is implemented in 24 states of India.
These are the schemes applicable to all the students in the states and union territories of the nation the schemes cover.
The central government has introduced a few scholarships for those pursuing higher educational degrees.
Saksham Scholarship / Contingency is awarded to specially-abled students taking admission in AICTE approved Technical institutions at Degree/ Diploma. Total 1000 scholarships are given @ Rs. 30,000 as tuition fee reimbursement and Rs. 20,000 as incidentals each year. Students can now Apply Online for Saksham Scheme to avail its benefits.
The goal of the PM Scholarship Scheme is to develop the capacities of J&K's youth, to educate, enable, and empower them to compete in a normal course and to improve and raise job prospects. Each year, a total of 5000 scholarships are awarded, with maintenance charges of Rs. 1,00,000/- and academic fees of Rs. 30,000/- for general degrees, Rs. 1,25,000/- for engineering degrees, and Rs. 3,00,000/- for medical degrees.
Looking at the poor job availability in the market, it is necessary to provide opportunities for SC/ST students to start their own enterprises. The broad objective of the Samriddhi Scheme is to help SC/ST students in designing, launching, and running their own business/startup through entrepreneurship development program after formal education is over/during their education as per AICTE’s startup policy. Students can ApplyOnline for Samriddhi Scheme to avail the benefits.
With this educational aid by the government in the form of schemes and scholarships, numerous people can benefit and pursue their dream degrees and lead a bright future. With initiatives like these, the youth of the nation can boost its economy and help reach a better place in the world.
By initiating these schemes and scholarships, the government supports the educational needs of the country. Crowdfunding is another way in today’s world to support one’s educational dreams. A student who wishes to pursue a higher education degree can raise funds online through fundraising platforms and fulfill their dream of pursuing the degree they wish for.
Author Name : Anjali Patel
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