PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme For Vibrant India (PM-YASASVI), 2021 – IMPRI Impact And Policy Research Institute

Policy Update
Anto Mariya M M

Background

The PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India (PM-YASASVI) integrates the existing schemes aimed at uplifting students from Other Backward Classes (OBC), Economically Backward Classes (EBC), and Denotified Tribes (DNT) under a single umbrella scheme. Bringing the existing schemes under one platform enhances the reach and impact. The PM-YASASVI, launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJ&E), provides educational empowerment to the socially and economically disadvantaged groups.

The scheme has identified the influential role of education in socio-economic development. Among the total population of OBC, 21.9% are below the poverty line, according to the Planning Commission’s report 2011-12. It is expected to be even higher at the present time. The students of OBC, EBC, and DNT face social discrimination and struggle with limited access to quality education and resources. This has hindered their upward social mobility historically. Thus, the scheme strives to eliminate systemic barriers that marginalised groups face in accessing quality education by providing financial support. This initiative, in a larger sense, promotes an inclusive and equitable society.

Source: PIB

Functioning

The PM-YASASVI scheme was launched by consolidating five sub-schemes of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment under the Government of India in 2021-22. The five sub-schemes include:

1. Pre-Matric Scholarship for OBC, EBC and DNT Students 
2. Post-Matric Scholarship for OBC, EBC and DNT Students
3. Top Class School Education for OBC, EBC and DNT Students 
4. Top Class College Education for OBC, EBC and DNT Students 
5. Construction of Hostel for OBC Boys and Girls 

The Pre-matric scholarship designed for class 9 and 10 students of Other Backward Classes (OBC), Economically Backward Classes (EBC), and Denotified Tribes (DNT) provides financial assistance of Rs. 4000 for families with an annual income below Rs. 2.5 lakhs. The beneficiaries of the Post-matric scholarship are post-secondary students. Academic allowance under this scheme ranges from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 20,000 in accordance with the course category. The meritorious school students of Class 9 to 12 can avail of financial cover for tuition fees, hostel expenses, and other academic costs for up to Rs. 1.5 lakhs annually under the Top Class School Education Scheme.

Under the Top Class College Education Scheme, college students from OBC, EBC and DNT receive financial support covering tuition, living expenses, and educational materials. The component of the construction of hostels for OBC boys and girls is intended to provide better access to education by providing accommodation near government schools and institutions. Students of OBC, EBC and DNT whose total annual family income is below ₹2.50 lakhs are eligible to apply for the PM-YASASVI.

Eligible students can apply online via the National Scholarship Portal. The scholarship was awarded based on an entrance exam, which is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) under the direction of MSJ&E. From 2023, it has been decided that marks obtained in Class VIII & X will be the selection criteria. Thus, the students who obtained 60% or above marks in Class 8 or 10 are eligible to apply on the NSP portal.

Performance

The PM-YASASVI scheme empowers students of the underprivileged groups, OBC, EBC and DNT, through education. It helps in overcoming financial barriers to quality education and completion of schooling and college education. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has consolidated the various schemes under an overarching scheme of PM-YASASVI to maintain a uniform platform and pattern across the scholarship schemes for OBC, EBC and DNT.

The PM-YASASVI scheme does not cover scholarships for SC students, as separate scholarship schemes focus on them.  The sub-schemes have been consistently allocated funds to ensure their implementation. The Top Class School and College Education Schemes, being a relatively new scheme in the array of schemes under PM-YASASVI, have started receiving funding from the year 2022-23 and 2023-24, respectively.

In the financial year 2023-24, the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme received Rs. 193.83 crore, benefiting 19.86 lakh students. Post-matric Scholarship focusing on post-secondary education was allocated Rs. 988.05 crores, where 27.97 lakh students were beneficiaries. The Government of India released Rs. 14.30 crores for the construction of hostels. In the 2023-24 financial year, 1146 students were accommodated in hostels constructed under this initiative. Rs. 111.18 crores were allocated to support 4762 students in the Top Class College Education scheme. The Top Class School Education scheme was allocated Rs. 6.55 Crores to support 2602 students.

Impact

The PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India (PM-YASASVI) is making a tangible impact on thousands of students from historically marginalised communities.

• Educational Empowerment
  Students from OBC, EBC, and DNT face financial constraints in continuing their education. The PM-YASASVI scheme, by providing financial assistance to these students, enhances their accessibility to quality education. The scheme paves the way for both personal and professional growth of these students. The foremost objective is to ensure that no student is left behind in academic and social progress.
•  Comprehensive Support
  The PM-YASASVI scheme renders comprehensive support to the students belonging to OBC, EBC and DNT. The scheme nurtures talent and identifies academic potential at a relatively young age and extends the required support. The support from the governmental side does not limit itself to financial aid, but the scheme builds hostels as well for their stay to pursue their academic endeavours. Not only tuition fees but also the expenses of the hostel and educational materials are covered. The students are supported from their school years through to higher education.
•  Societal Upliftment
  The most distinguishable outcome of the scheme is that it addresses systemic barriers faced by socially disadvantaged communities. The PM-YASASVI scheme aims to create an inclusive and equitable education system, which in turn will lead to an inclusive and prosperous India.

Emerging Issues 

While the PM-YASASVI scheme is a great initiative, there exist bureaucratic and logistical hurdles. These include delays in dispensing funds, a lack of concrete data on the current population of OBC, EBC, and DNT communities, and a lack of awareness about the schemes among families of these communities.

• Delays in Fund Disbursement
  Even after the students clear the eligibility test, they have to wait for a long period to receive the scholarship money. While the Top Class School and College Education sub-schemes are central sector schemes, the other three – the pre-matric and post-matric scholarship schemes as well as the construction of hostels – are centrally sponsored schemes. Centrally sponsored schemes mean that the cost is shared between the centre and the state in a 60:40 ratio. This has caused delays in disbursing the scholarship amount to meritorious students.
• Lack of Awareness
  Many students and families from the communities of OBC, EBC, and DNT remain unaware of the financial assistance being provided under government schemes like PM-YASASVI. The lack of awareness about the beneficial schemes defeats the very purpose of these welfare measures.
• Inadequate Census Data
  With no national census conducted since 2011, the identification of the current OBC, EBC, and DNT community population remains an issue, potentially limiting the beneficiaries of the PM-YASASVI scheme. This means that the benefits of the scheme have not reached all students of the community.

Way Forward

The PM-YASASVI scheme is transforming the educational landscape of disadvantaged communities, including OBC, EBC, and DNT. The scheme has set its objectives correctly, aiming at social upliftment through education. However, a few hindrances exist in its execution and reaching the stated goals. Promoting the scheme and its benefits among the people of the OBC, EBC and DNT communities is essential. While education is a preeminent factor in socio-economic mobility, added skillset and professional training will make the students of the community truly competitive with their counterparts.

Thus, financial aid for professional training courses will encourage the students of the disadvantaged groups and reap the benefits in their academic and professional pursuits. It is undoubtedly true that this scheme has had an impact on the lives of thousands of students and their families. However, addressing the hurdles in the logistics and fund disbursement will enhance the PM-YASASVI scheme.

References

About the Contributor: Anto Mariya M M is currently pursuing her postgraduate degree in Political Science at Madras Christian College. She is a research intern at IMPRI.

Acknowledgment: The author sincerely thanks Ms. Aasthaba Jadeja and the IMPRI team for their valuable support.

Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.

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