Thursday, August 29, 2013

NHFDC invites applications from handicap students for scholarships



By Haryananewswire
CHANDIGARH, AUG 29
National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (NHFDC) has invited applications from students with disabilities for award of 2000 Scholarship under National Fund Scholarship Scheme and Trust Fund Scholarship Scheme.
   While giving this information here today, an official spokesman said these scholarships were provided every year to eligible students with disabilities for pursuing higher, professional and technical courses. Under Trust Fund Scholarship Scheme, 1500 scholarships would be provided and under National Fund Scholarship Scheme, 500 scholarships would be provided to eligible students with disabilities. 
He said that under Trust Fund Scholarship Scheme, 30 per cent scholarships would be reserved for girls, which would be transferable to male students in case of non-availability of female candidates. Under the Trust Fund, Non-refundable fees would be fully awarded in case of Government and Government aided institutions. However, in case of Private institutions the reimbursement would be restricted to similar courses in government and government aided institutions. The scholarship amount ranges upto Rs 1.50 lakh depending upon course fee, maintenance allowance, books and stationery allowance and aids and appliances of student under Trust Fund.
He said that under the Fund, , maintenance allowance would be paid to the students for 10 months at the rate of Rs. 2500 per month for Professional Graduate Courses and Rs.3000 per month for Professional Post-Graduate Courses for one academic year. Similarly, Books and Stationery allowance would be paid to students pursuing Professional Graduate Courses at the rate of Rs 6,000 per annum and Rs.10, 000 per annum for pursuing Professional Post-Graduate Courses. Apart from this financial assistance would be given for computer with editing software for visually, hearing and orthopedically handicapped graduate and post graduate students pursuing professional courses.
While detailing the eligibility conditions for scholarship under Trust Fund, he said that the financial assistance would be given to pursue degree and post graduate level technical and professional courses from a recognized institution. Maintenance, book or stationary allowance and grant for purchase of assistive devices would be credited to the student’s account.
He said that Non-refundable fees would be reimbursed to the student on production of proof of deposit of fees or would be paid directly to the institute under intimation to the student. The scholarship would be awarded for only one course at a time. He said that the students who get admission to a college to pursue technical or professional courses on the basis of a competitive examination would be eligible for the scholarship without any consideration of percentage of marks at higher secondary or graduation level. Apart from this, the students who get admission in technical or professional courses without facing any competitive examination would also be eligible for scholarship. However, such students should have not less than 50 per cent marks at higher secondary or graduation level. Selection of these students would be done strictly on merit basis, he added.
The spokesman said that students who pursue their education through correspondence would also be eligible for the scholarship. He said that the continuation of the scholarship in subsequent years would be automatic subject to successful completion of the course during the preceding year. However, grace period of one year would be admissible for the entire course in specified categories. He said that a candidate who is awarded scholarship for one course, after its completion would be eligible for another course too. However, the awardees would not be eligible for a similar or equivalent course. A scholarship holder under this scheme would not avail any other scholarships or stipends for pursuing the course.
He said that the annual income of the beneficiaries, parent or guardian of beneficiaries should not exceed Rs. three lakh from all sources. However, preference would be given to economically weaker section, he added.
Under National Fund Scholarship Scheme, Scholarship of Rs.1000 per month for hostellers and Rs.700 per month for day scholars studying in professional courses at graduation and a level above, and Rs.700  per month for hostellers and Rs.400 per month for day scholars pursuing Diploma and Certificate level professional courses would be awarded. Students with disabilities of Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation, Multiple Disabilities and profound or severe hearing impaired for pursuing general professional, technical or vocational courses after class VIII would also be given scholarship amount of Rs 700 for hostellers and Rs 400 for day scholars. The students would also be reimbursed the Course fee subject to a ceiling of Rs.10, 000 per year, he added.
Similarly, for scholarship under the National Fund, Financial Assistance would be available to Indian students with at least 40 per cent disability certified as per definition under Persons with Disabilities Act 1995.  Financial Assistance would be given for pursuing Post-Matric, Post- Secondary technical and professional courses including Ph.D and M.Phil from recognized institutions. However, for students with disabilities of Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation, Multiple Disabilities and profound or severe hearing impaired, the minimum education qualification would be class VIII pass and scholarship would be awarded to them for pursuing general, technical, vocational or professional courses. Scholarship would be awarded to one student for pursuing only one course.
The Financial assistance could be given for computer with editing software for blind, deaf graduate and postgraduate students pursuing professional courses and for support access software for cerebral palsied students. He said that continuation or renewal of the award for the next year would depend on successfully completing the course in the preceding year with minimum 45 per cent marks for professional course and 40 per cent for other courses. The assistance under this scheme is not intended for Post-Matric or Post Secondary Technical or professional courses having duration less than one year. He said that a scholarship holder under this scheme would not concurrently hold any other scholarship or stipend. If already any other scholarship or stipend awarded, the student is required to exercise his or her option for choosing the scholarship that he or she proposed to avail and inform awarding authority about the same.
Monthly family income of the beneficiary should not be more than 15,000 from all sources under National und scheme. Family income includes income of the parent or guardian, he added.
The hard copy of the printed application for the scholarship might be sent to the National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, Red Cross Bhawan, Sector-12, Faridabad by August 31 for availing scholarship under National Fund Scholarship Scheme.  For Trust Fund Scholarship, the students can apply on www.nhfdc.nic.in  anytime online in an academic year and submit hardcopy of the application duly recommended by head of the institution or college alongwith attested copy of requisite documents. More details of the schemes could be seen at Ministry’s website www.socialjustice.nic.in or website of NHFDC www.nhfdc.nic.in

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