In a significant step toward advancing education and fostering the socio-economic development of Scheduled Castes (SCs), the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has introduced the ‘Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas’ (SHRESHTA). According to an official statement from the ministry, the main objective of this program is to broaden the reach of government development initiatives and address service deficiencies in regions primarily populated by SC communities in the education sector.
According to the official statement, SHRESHTA envisions the creation of a conducive environment for the socio-economic upliftment and comprehensive development of SC students, ensuring a brighter future for them. The scheme’s core strategy involves fostering collaboration between grant-in-aid institutions managed by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and residential high schools offering quality education.
According to the official statement, the scheme’s implementation follows two distinct modes. In the first approach, there are the SHRESHTA schools, comprising the top-performing CBSE/State Board-affiliated private residential schools. Under this mode, a specific number of outstanding SC students in various States and Union Territories (UTs) will be annually selected through the National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS), conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). These selected students will then gain admission to the best private residential schools affiliated with CBSE/State Boards for their education from the 9th to the 12th standard. The selection of these schools is based on their exemplary performance, with schools achieving a pass rate of over 75 percent for classes 10 and 12 over the past three years being chosen by a selection committee for admitting the selected students.
Every year, approximately 3,000 SC students, whose parents have an annual income within the 2.5 lakh limit, will be selected through a national-level test administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA). These students will have the opportunity to choose from a variety of schools based on their academic merit. Importantly, the scheme encompasses all fees for each student, encompassing both school fees (tuition fees) and hostel fees (mess charges). The specified admissible fees for each class are as follows: 9th: Rs. 1,00,000/-; 10th: Rs. 1,10,000/-; 11th: Rs. 1,25,000/-; 12th: Rs. 1,35,000/-.
Additionally, the program includes a bridge course within the chosen schools, addressing the specific academic requirements of students and facilitating their adjustment to the school setting. The Department will also cover the expense of this bridge course, which amounts to 10 percent of the annual fee. The ministry will actively monitor the progress of the students as part of this initiative.
According to the official statement, the second implementation approach relates to NGO/VO Operated Schools/Hostels (EXISTING COMPONENT). This mode specifically applies to schools and hostels managed by voluntary organizations (VOs) and NGOs, providing education up to the 12th standard, as detailed in the official announcement.
The official statement released by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment can be accessed here: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1965868
