OREANDA-NEWS. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has been providing financial assistance to Universities and Colleges for conducting special classes outside the regular time table. It has informed that in order to enable students belonging to Scheduled Castes(SCs)/Scheduled Tribes(STs)/Other Backward Classes (Non-creamy layer)/Minority communities, to come up to the level necessary for pursuing  higher studies efficiently  and to reduce their failure and drop-out rate remedial coaching is provided to them. Such assistance is provided under the UGC Coaching Schemes for SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) & Minority Students for Universities and Colleges. Financial assistance of Rs. 5 Lakhs, for non-recurring items, as one time grant and Rs. 7 Lakhs per annum, for recurring items, is provided to Universities under the scheme. Colleges are eligible to receive Rs. 5 Lakhs, for non-recurring items, as one time grant and Rs. 2 Lakhs per annum, for recurring items, under the scheme. The details of these Schemes are available at http://www.ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/1910509_Guidelines-for-Coaching-Schemes-university.pdf and http://www.ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/2722093_Guidelines-for-Coaching-Schemes-college.pdf respectively.

 During the year 2012-13, the UGC has released a grant of Rs.73.24 Crores to 4254 Colleges under these schemes.

As per the guidelines, each University/College is required to maintain attendance registers for all candidates enrolled for coaching classes as well as subject wise result of tests and other evaluation. The Coordinators of the programme in the concerned Higher Educational Institutions maintain the appraisal report of the implementation of these schemes and the UGC has constituted a Standing Committee to review their implementation.

This information was given by the Union Human Resource Development Minister, Smt. Smriti Irani in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha question.