TN to enhance incentive to keep girls in school

The girl students are entitled to withdraw it with interest after reaching 18 years and passing Class 12 board examinations. 

The NCI scheme covers all girl students from SC/ST communities who pass Class 8, and from Kastrurba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (irrespective of whether they belong to SC/ST communities) and enrol for Class 9 in State/UT government, aided or local body schools.

This year, about one lakh girl students would benefit under the scheme, said a senior School Education department official, adding that State nodal officers have been directed to submit the data/list of beneficiaries after approving the details given by district education officers within a week after verification process is over.

Apart from incentive to girl students, the government would also expand the National Means-Cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMS) to award scholarships to meritorious students from economically weaker sections to encourage them to continue study at secondary stage of education.

The scheme would cover students passing out of government and government aided schools with at least 55 per cent marks. 

The selected students get Rs 6,000 per annum for four years from Class 9 to 12, which would be disbursed directly into their bank accounts every quarter.

“During the current academic year, about 7,000 students are expected to benefit from the scheme,” the official said.

Union Bank of India and Indian Bank are the implementing banks for the both the schemes, while the funds for them are fully provided by the Centre.