About 5,500 children of armed forces personnel were selected for professional courses like MBBS and BTech since fiscal 2015-16 under the PM's scholarship programme, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said today.
Amid ruckus created by TDP members in the Rajya Sabha over their demand for special category status for Andhra Pradesh, he said from 2015-16, "a total 5,500 students are selected for professional degress courses like B Tech, BE, BDS, MBBS, BEd, BBA, BCA, B Pharma etc only recognised by respective government regulatory body."
The scholarship was introduced in 2006-2007 to encourage higher professional education for the dependent wards of ex- servicemen, ex-coast guard personnel and their widows below the officers rank, besides dependents, wards, widows of ex- servicemen who have died or become disabled in service irrespective of their rank, Bhamre said during Question Hour.
Masters course are not eligible, except in MBA and such courses, he said, adding that students studying abroad and under distant learning courses are also not eligible under the scheme.
In reply to a question whether government plans to introduce new facilites for the education of defence personnel children, Bhamre said "no such proposal is under consideration as of now."
To another query, he said the educational concession for children of armed forces personnel and officers gone missing, disabled and killed in action are given as per regulation.
"There is a provision of full reimbursement of hostel charges for those studying in boarding schools and colleges, cost of books and stationery upto Rs 2,000 per annum per student, cost of uniform if compulsory Rs 2,000 is given," the Minister said.
Bhamre said enough allowances are provided to serving officers and personnel. He said that the allowance will be double for differently-abled children and the reimbursement will be done once a year.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
