Scheme for payment of Full Fees to the eligible Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students irrespective of their family income to pursue their studies in any Private School recognised by Government including Government Aided Schools and to pursue Higher/Professional Courses in Colleges and Universities, Rules, 2020.

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La Gazette de L' État de Poudouchéry

The Gazette of Puducherry

PART - II

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®ı Amflºƒˆ ÿƒÀkVF¬˛wÁ\ 2021 } ƒ™kˆ | 12 { No. 1 Poudouchéry Mardi 1 2 Janvier 2021

No. Puducherry Tuesday 12th January 2021

(22 Pausa 1942)

GOVERNMENT OF PUDUCHERRY

ADI DRAVIDAR WELFARE AND SCHEDULED TRIBES

WELFARE SECRETARIAT

[G.O. Ms. No. 08/Wel.(SCW)/2020-21/3808,

Puducherry, dated 4th January 2021]

ORDER

Whereas, the Government of Puducherry aims to promote the education standard amongst the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students in the Union territory of Puducherry;

2. Whereas, it is proposed to extend the financial assistance to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students who are pursuing the studies in any Private School recognized by Government including Government Aided Schools and to pursue Higher/Professional Courses

[ 1 ] 2 LA GAZETTE DE L'ETAT [PART–II

in the Union territory of Puducherry in supersession of the existing Scheme called "Dr. Ambedkar Scheme for Grant of Financial Assistance to Scheduled Caste Students studying in Professional Colleges, Rules 2012", notified vide G.O. Ms. No. 4/2012-Wel.(SCW), dated 20-04-2012;

3. Now, therefore, the Lieutenant-Governor, Puducherry, is pleased to approve the Rules for the "Scheme for payment of Full Fees to the eligible Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students irrespective of their family income to pursue their studies in any Private School recognised by Government including Government Aided Schools and to pursue Higher/Professional Courses in Colleges and Universities, Rules, 2020" in the Union territory of Puducherry as appended herewith and to order that it shall be implemented in the Union territory of Puducherry from the date of publication of the Rules in the Official Gazette.

4. This issues with the concurrence of the Finance Department,

Puducherry vide their I.D.No. l091/2020/Fl(B)/FC, dated 31-12-2020.

(By order of the Lieutenant-Governor)

S. YESVANTHAIYAH, Under Secretary to Government (ADW & STW).

————

"Rules for the Scheme for Grant of Full Fees to the Eligible

Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Students irrespective of

Income ceiling to pursue their studies in any Private School

recognised by Government including Government Aided Schools and to

pursue Higher/Professional Courses in Colleges and Universities,

in the Union territory of Puducherry Rules, 2020"

1. Short title, extent and Commencement.— (i) These rules shall be called the "Rules for the Scheme for Grant of full fees to eligible Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students irrespective of Income ceiling to pursue studies in any Private School recognised by Government including Government Aided Schools and to pursue Higher/Professional Courses in Colleges and Universities, in the Union territory of Puducherry, Rules, 2020.

(ii) They shall come into force from the date of publication in

the Official Gazette.

(iii) They shall extend to the whole of the Union territory of

Puducherry.

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PART–II] LA GAZETTE DE L'ETAT

2. Object of the Scheme.— The object of the scheme is to grant of full fees to the eligible Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students without Income ceiling to pursue studies in classes 1st Standard to 12th Standard in any Private School recognised by Government including Government Aided Schools and to pursue Higher/Professional Courses selected through CENTAC and for other courses studying in recognized Institutions in the Union territory of Puducherry.

3. Definitions.— In these rules, unless the context otherwise

requires,

(i) "CENTAC" means, Centralized Admission Committee,

constituted by Government of Puducherry;

(ii) (a) "Courses" means, a regular academic study leading to the award of Under Graduate/Postgraduate Degree in Arts, Science, Commerce/Computer Science, Paramedical Courses, ITIs and all Diploma/Postgraduate Diploma Courses;

(b) "Professional Courses" means, a regular academic study leading to the award of Under Graduate/Postgraduate Degree in Medicine/Engineering/Dental/Veterinary/ Pharmacy/Physiotherapy/Nursing/Medical Lab Technician/ Agriculture/Teacher Education/Law or Postgraduate Degree in Business Administration/Computer Application or any other course notified by the Government from time to time;

(iii) "Department" means, the Adi Dravidar Welfare and

Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department, Puducherry;

(iv) "Director" means, the Director of Adi Dravidar Welfare and

Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department, Puducherry;

(v) "Fees" means, tuition fee, examination fee, term fee, laboratory fee, book fee, uniform fee and other non-refundable fees payable to the institution fixed by the Fee Committee subject to fulfilment of other rules of the Scheme except bus fee, mess fee, donation/capitation fees and the fees of like nature;

(vi) "Fee Committee" means, the respective Statutory Fee

Committee appointed by the Government;

4 LA GAZETTE DE L'ETAT [PART–II

(vii) "Government" means, the Administrator of Union territory of Puducherry appointed by the President of India under Article 239 of the Constitution of India;

(viii) "Private School" means, any Private Schools recognized by

Government including Government Aided Schools;

(ix) "Scheduled Castes" means, the Castes specified in the Constitution (Puducherry) Scheduled Castes Order, 1964 as amended from time to time;

(x) "Scheduled Tribes" means, the Castes specified in the Constitution (Puducherry) Scheduled Tribes Order, 2016, as amended from time to time;

(xi) "Secretary" means, Secretary to Government of Puducherry, in-charge of the subject of Adi Dravidar Welfare and Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department, Puducherry;

(xii) "Hostel" means, the Hostels run by the concerned

Educational Institutions/Colleges.

4. Conditions of Eligibility.— (i) The beneficiary should be a student belonging to Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribes as defined in the clause 3(ix) and 3(x) of the Rules.

(ii) The Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe students studying in 1st standard to 12th Standard in any Private School recognised by Government including Government Aided Schools are eligible for financial assistance under this Scheme.

(iii) (a) The Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe students who have passed in Higher Secondary Examination or Equivalent and studying Courses in Government/ Government recognized Private Colleges and Colleges under Deemed Universities duly sponsored by CENTAC or got admission directly in Central/State/Union Territory Government run Institution/Colleges in the Union territory of Puducherry recognized by UGC/State Board on their own merits are eligible for the Financial Assistance.

(b) The Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe students studying in Government/Government recognized private Arts and Science Colleges, Paramedical Institutions, ITIs and Diploma granting Institutions are eligible for Financial Assistance under this Scheme.

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PART–II] LA GAZETTE DE L'ETAT

(iv) The students getting financial assistance under any other Scholarship/Stipend Scheme of any other Department of this Administration are not eligible to get assistance under these Rules.

(v) The students studying in classes 1 to 12 shall not be covered under this Scheme, if, their parents working in the Government/ Government Organization are availing Children's Education Allowance.

(vi) The benefit of the Scheme will not be provided to more than 2 siblings in a family, the students will submit an Affidavit to this effect in the Institutions.

(vii) Financial Assistance will not be extended during the

internship training period to medical students.

(viii) The Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe students undergoing a part-time course or a course in an unrecognized Institution/ College or through correspondence/distance mode or in off-campus study centre of Indian University/Foreign University are not eligible to avail the assistance under this Scheme.

(ix) The students pursuing Postgraduate courses in Medicine will be eligible for financial assistance under this Scheme if, they are not allowed to practice during the period of their course and will not hold any other scholarship/stipend, if, awarded any other scholarship/stipend, the student can exercise his/her option either of the two scholarship/ stipend, whichever is more beneficial to him/her and should inform the sanctioning authority through the Head of Institution about the option made.

5. Means Test.— All Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe students studying in classes 1 to 12 in any Private School recognised by Government and pursuing Higher/Professional Courses in Colleges and Universities, in the Union territory of Puducherry and fulfilling the conditions stipulated in the Rule 4 are eligible to get financial assistance irrespective of their Parent's/Guardian's Annual Income. The Financial Assistance once awarded can be renewed every year till the completion of the course for which the award has been granted subject to fulfilment of all the terms and conditions prescribed for the renewal of the award.

6. Quantum of Financial Assistance.— (i) Fees as defined in rule 3(v) and as fixed by the Statutory Fee Committee, subject to fulfilment of other rules/conditions of the Scheme.

6 LA GAZETTE DE L'ETAT [PART–II

(ii) Room rent at the rate of ` 2,000 per month or the actual rent whichever is less for hosteliers or at the rate fixed by the Government from time to time.

(iii) Maintenance Allowance at the following rates:

7. Period of Financial Assistance.— (i) The period of Financial Assistance shall be the normal duration of the respective courses. If, the courses pursued by the students are under semester system, the payment will be admitted once in a semester and in all other cases once in a year. Financial assistance once awarded will be continued till the completion of the courses subject to promotion of students to the next higher class.

(ii) If, an awardee shows unsatisfactory progress during the course of his/her studies, viz., failure in the promotional examination and failure to take any supplementary examination subsequently or if, he/she changes the course of study without prior approval of the Director of Higher and Technical Education, Puducherry, the financial assistance will not be extended. Good conduct and regularity in attendance are also the required conditions for continuance of the financial assistance.

(iii) If, an awardee is unable to appear in the terminal University examination owing to prolonged illness which had resulted in shortage of the required attendance as per University Rules, the financial assistance will be renewed for next year provided the Head of the Institution certifies that the awardee would have passed the University Examination had been taken the Examination and on production of a Certificate from the Registered Medical Practitioner that the awardee had been under treatment for a period by which the attendance fell short.

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PART–II] LA GAZETTE DE L'ETAT

8. Procedure for Sanction.— (i) The Director, Adi Dravidar Welfare and Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department shall publish the Scheme and the prescribed formats appended to these Rules in this Department's Website and also release advertisement of suitable size in one English and regional language daily, popular in each region and also through circulars along with Application Form to any Private School recognized by Government including Government Aided Schools, Colleges and Universities including JIPMER functioning in this Union Territory. Based on the total seats reserved for Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe students in each College, the duly filled in application shall be submitted to the Director of Adi Dravidar Welfare and Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department through the Head of the respective Schools and Higher/ Professional Colleges with due recommendation along with the list received from the CENTAC will be taken into account for ensuring that these students are actually selected through CENTAC.

(ii) The admission given other than through CENTAC in Professional Courses offered by the Government run Colleges by the individual merit of the Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe students will also be taken into account.

(iii) The Secretary shall ensure that adequate funds are provisioned for this Scheme in the budget of Adi-Dravidar Welfare and Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department, Puducherry, at the beginning of the Financial Year. The Secretary will be the competent authority to approve the list of eligible students to avail the benefit under the Scheme.

(iv) The amount will be released directly into the Bank Account of the concerned Educational Institutions through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) where the beneficiary studies.

9. Mode of Disbursement.— (1) The payment shall be made by the Director, Adi Dravidar Welfare and Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department, Puducherry, at the beginning of the academic year to the beneficiary concerned through DBT. The following procedure shall be followed in drawing and disbursing the Financial Assistance:-

(i) The Financial Assistance will be drawn by the Director, Adi Dravidar Welfare and Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department, Puducherry, based on the seats reserved for Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe students and the fees structure by way of obtaining block sanction of the Government.

8 LA GAZETTE DE L'ETAT [PART–II

(ii) The admitted beneficiaries shall submit applications in the Form appended to these rules as in Annexure I through the Institutions for account and audit purpose.

(iii) The Financial Assistance will be released directly into the Bank Account of the Educational Institution by DBT where the beneficiary studies.

(iv) In case of any student shifting and joining another College through counselling by CENTAC or directly by the students, the amount released to the first admitted College for the student shall be adjusted for the newly admitted student. No fresh sanction will be issued for such transfer cases.

(v) Discontinuance of the course by the student will lead to recovery of the entire amount released with interest under the Puducherry Revenue Recovery Act, 1970 from them or from their parent or guardian.

(2) The payment of Financial Assistance will start from the year of admission in the course. In case of renewal of Financial Assistance for succeeding year, the Financial Assistance will be paid from the year following that for which the Financial Assistance was paid during the previous Academic year, if, the course of study pursued is continuous e.g., M.B.,B.S. (I year) to M.B.,B.S. (II year), etc., on receipt of the Annual Progress Report as in Annexure II which contain information regarding percentage of marks and with supporting document from that Institution.

10. Payment of Financial Assistance During Leave.— (i) The Financial Assistance during the leave period will be admissible only on the following grounds :-

If, the absence is due to illness supported by Medical Certificate

from a Registered Medical Practitioner,

(a) Full Financial Assistance will be granted if, the absence

does not exceed two months.

(b) 50% of Financial Assistance only will be granted if, the absence period exceeds two months but, not beyond four months.

(c) No financial Assistance will be granted if, the absence

period exceeds four months.

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PART–II] LA GAZETTE DE L'ETAT

(ii) The Financial Assistance for married Female Students will be admissible at full rate up to six months (180 days) of absence on the grounds of Maternity Leave and not beyond that.

(iii) In all the above cases, the Financial Assistance at the rates indicated will be paid only if, the Head of the Institution recommends the application and certifies that the awardee is likely to make up the deficiency in lectures and studies during the rest of the period of the course of studies.

(iv) The awardee will get the Financial Assistance as long as he/she is on the rolls of an Institution subject to fulfilment of sub-paras (i), (ii), (iii) of Rule 10. If, on account of prolonged illness or by other valid reasons supported by the document, the awardee's name is struck off the rolls and he/she will be entitled to restoration of the Financial Assistance on re-admission and on the recommendation of the Head of the Institution.

11. Removal of Doubts.— If, any doubt arises as to the interpretation of these Rules, the decision of the Government thereon shall be the final.

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online publication at "https://styandptg.py.gov.in" Published by The Director, Government Press, Puducherry.