State mulling residential coaching programme for ST, SC and OBC students

Ranchi: The state govt is mulling a sponsorship scheme to 50 meritorious students from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and backward every year to help them prepare for competitive examinations. Chamra Linda, the minister for the state department of ST, SC, and Backward Class Welfare, said the students will be provided residential coaching in New Delhi. The move is part of govt’s push to widen educational access for SC, ST and backward class students, aiming for exams like engineering, and civil services.

“Efforts are on to send at least 50 students to Delhi every year to make them prepare for the civil services examinations that are conducted by the UPSC,” Linda told TOI. He added that the department is trying to tie up with premier coaching institutes to ensure quality training.

Linda said students from these communities need stronger institutional support to compete in higher education and top examinations. Referring to recent academic results, he said around five students from backward classes and tribal communities had cleared engineering entrance.

“It showed that with proper guidance and support, more students could succeed,” he said.

The minister said the govt would bear the full cost of the proposed programme. “We are trying to get an accommodation where 50 tribal and backward classes students can go there every year and prepare,” Linda said, adding that expenses for books, food, living expenses, coaching et al will be borne by the govt.

Simultaneously, Linda also said that efforts are underway to bring teachers from Rajasthan to Ranchi to coach tribal students locally. “The coaching will be free for them,” minister said.

Department secretary Kripanand Jha on the other hand said that the proposal is at a very nascent stage.