Neeraj Dubey
Flagship schemes of a Government are those schemes which are the main or most important and address major national concerns on health, education, environment, irrigation, urban and rural development, employment and other sectors. As the schemes are of utmost importance, the funding of these schemes is slightly higher than other schemes. There are many such schemes/programmes launched by the Central Government for the welfare of general masses like:- Swacch Bharat Abhiyan:- is a scheme which basically operates under the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The scheme is run by the Government of India with an aim to achieve universal sanitation coverage. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Digital India Programme.:- Digital India is basically a programme to transform India into a digitally empowered country MGNREGA, JNNURM, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan:- is a flagship scheme of the Government of India which aims to provide elementary education to children. Like all these schemes, there is one more ambitious program launched by the Union Government in 2010 called Prime Minister Special Scholarship Scheme(PMSSS) with an aim to empower J&K youth by providing them an opportunity to pursue under graduate courses in medical, engineering and non-engineering streams outside the J&K State and to increase the scope of employment so that youth living there could get a job in public and private sectors based on their capabilities and eligibility. All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) under the supervision of Ministry of Human Resource has started a scheme of scholarship which is known as PMSSS that is Prime Minister Special Scholarship Scheme. The student must have the domicile of Jammu and Kashmir in order to avail the scholarship. The Government has initiated the step for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir so that the student of the place could nourish their life in a smoother way. The J & K cell is responsible for proper implementation of the scheme to fulfil the objectives of Prime Ministers Special Scholarship Scheme to J&K Students.
A) Roles and Responsibilities :-
An expert Group was constituted by Prime Minister on 18th August, 2010 in the context of enhancing employment opportunities among youths of Jammu and Kashmir and to formulate job plan involving public and private sectors. Every year fresh scholarships were given to J&K Students to pursue undergraduate studies outside the State of Jammu and Kashmir for improving their skills by providing access to education. Scheme was started in 2011 and modified from time to time to make the Scheme student friendly. Every year lots of students get passed out and plan for graduate courses outside Jammu and Kashmir. The government of India provides this scholarship every year with some modifications and improvisations so that maximum benefits could be provided to students. If someone wants admission through lateral entry then their Diploma course must be executed from any recognized institute under Jammu and Kashmir. Family income of the student, who is going to apply, should be less than 8 lakhs per year. It is envisaged to provide 5000 fresh scholarships per annum. Out of these, 2070 scholarships are for General Degree Courses, 2830 for Professional/Technical courses and 100 for Medical Courses. There is a provision of inter-changeability of slots among General, Medical and Professional/Technical streams, subject to the savings accruing from any shortfall in the number of students opting for General Degree Courses.
B) Main objectives of the Scheme are as under: –
The Special Scholarship Scheme for Jammu and Kashmir aims at encouraging the youth from Jammu & Kashmir to take advantage of the educational institutions outside the state, which would provide them an opportunity, to interact with their counterparts from the rest of the country, thereby helping them become a part of the mainstream.
* Evolving guidelines for proper implementation of the scheme to fulfil the objectives.
* To Conduct Awareness Workshops about the Scheme.
* To Conduct Counselling for admission of candidates to different programs/courses.
* Disbursal of Scholarship for the eligible Candidates.
* Redressal of Grievances of PMSSS Candidates.
C) Benefits of PMSSS
* The Scholarship covers Course fees and maintenance fees.
* Course Fee is paid directly to the Institute which includes tuition fees, university fee, exam fee, library fee, internet fee, etc.
* Maintenance fee is paid to the student in 2 equal instalments which includes hostel fee, buying books, mess charges, etc.
D) Procedure for PMSSS
* Every student needs to provide their preference/ choices of Colleges.
* All India Council of Technical Education – AICTE will open centres/awareness camps at all the district head-quarters of Jammu/ Srinagar and Ladakh for admissions in particular institute under PMSSS.
* The candidate should be present for the counselling.
* The Absent students are not eligible for the scholarship.
* The allotment of choices will be made through counselling only. No change to be allowed after counselling is over under any circumstances.
E) Steps to apply for PMSSS
Step 1. Open website https://www.aicte-jk-scholarship-gov.in/ , Step 2. Register as a new user, Step 3. Fill all the details mention in form, Step 4. Attach all the required documents, Step 5. After completing the form details. Click Submit button.
F) IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING :- For better and effective implementation and monitoring of this Scheme, constitution of a Committee was recommended in CCEA note. Accordingly, a Committee – Inter Ministerial Committee (MC) – on Special Scholarship Scheme for Jammu and Kashmir was constituted. Inter-Ministerial Committee (lMC) is constituted to oversee the implementation of the Scheme and is chaired by Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Adviser Project Appraisal and Management Division (PAMD) and Adviser Education, Planning Commission (NITI Aayog), representatives of Department of Expenditure are members and representatives of the Ministries of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Deptt. of Science and Technology are invitees.
Secretary (Higher Education) and Secretary (School Education), Govt. of Jammu and Kashmir are special invitees. Facilitation Centre to facilitate the students with online applications and documents verification are set up by the State Govt. Further, the scheme is disseminated amongst the target group with the support of State Govt. Hence if you are looking to get all necessary details in regards to the scholarship of Jammu and Kashmir then this article will help you out in all regards. The author being himself a senior faculty in GCET Jammu feels it convenient to mobilize that information among all the stakeholders of our state,( who cannot afford or meet the huge expenses of tuition fees of various professional colleges within or outside the state to fulfil their educational desires) can avail this golden opportunity to pursue courses of their choice outside the J&K State free of cost with passion, perfection, devotion and dedication.
(The author is Sr. Faculty & Warden(GCET – Jammu)
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