BHUBANESWAR: The State Government is likely to launch a scheme for extending financial assistance to disadvantaged Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe girls to help them pursue their studies beyond Class VIII till completing Class X with assistance from the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID).The scheme to be implemented in Rayagada district on a pilot basis, will be extended to other districts later. The scheme will cover all the districts during 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16. The State Government will fund the scheme from 2016-17. The implementation of the scheme will cost the State exchequer Rs 70 crore. Each girl student will receive ` 2,000 per annum under this scheme. Funds will be transferred to her bank or post office account on a monthly basis. The scheme will benefit at least 3,000 girls in Rayagada district. Official sources said the new scheme aims at increasing attendance of SC and ST girl students in Class IX and X. Payment will be made conditional on 75 per cent attendance. The scheme will be called the ‘conditional cash transfer programme’.Literacy rates among Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are lowest in some predominantly tribal districts. In some places it does not even touch 10 per cent. The aim of the scheme is to increase the number of these disadvantages girls in Class IX and X. The scheme will be implemented by the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribe Development Department.
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