West Bengal Shikshashree Scheme 2024 | The scheme provides direct financial assistance to students, helping them meet educational expenses.

The West Bengal Shikshashree Scheme is a government initiative designed to support Scheduled Caste (SC) students studying in classes V to VIII. It aims to provide financial assistance to help these students continue their education and reduce dropout rates. The scheme was introduced to replace two older schemes, Book Grant and Maintenance Grant, which were found to be less effective.  

What is West Bengal Shikshashree Scheme?

The West Bengal government introduced the “Shikshashree Scheme” in 2014–15, combining the Book Grants and Maintenance Grants programs to offer financial aid to Schedule Caste students enrolled in levels V– VIII.

Students in classes V–VIII who were day scholars and belonged to the Scheduled Caste group used to get two types of grants: a book grant and a maintenance grant. These awards were few in number and accomplished little of their stated goal. Additionally, the procedures for choosing individuals and making payments are laborious and time-consuming. A new scheme of assistance to the target group is being formulated under the name “Shikshashree Scheme” in order to eliminate these inherent predicaments in the scheme and to provide quality assistance to Schedule Caste (SC) students of Classes V to VIII in a smooth, transparent, and efficient manner.

The “Shikshashree Scheme” is a program that combines the Book Grants and Maintenance Grants programs to help SC day scholars in Classes V–VIII. It is applicable to West Bengali day students reading in classes V through VIII in any government-run, government-aided, or government-recognized school in the state.

Objectives of the West Bengal Shikshashree Scheme

The West Bengal Shikshashree Scheme has been implemented with several clear objectives:

• Financial Assistance: To provide financial support to Scheduled Caste (SC) students studying in classes V to VIII to help overcome economic barriers to education.
• Improved School Attendance: To increase school attendance rates among SC students by reducing financial constraints.
• Reduced Dropout Rates: To minimize the dropout rate, especially among SC girls, by ensuring continued education.
• Access to Educational Resources: To enable SC students to purchase necessary books, uniforms, and other educational materials.
• Social Inclusion: To promote social inclusion by providing equal opportunities to SC students.
• Empowerment: To empower SC students by equipping them with education, which is a key tool for social and economic upliftment.

Financial Assistance Under Shikshashree Scheme

Class	Scholarship Amount
5th	800 /-
6th	800 /-
7th	800 /-
8th	800 /-

Benefits of the West Bengal Shikshashree Scheme

The West Bengal Shikshashree Scheme offers several benefits to eligible SC students:

• Financial Support: The scheme provides direct financial assistance to students, helping them meet educational expenses.
• Improved Access to Education: By reducing financial burdens, the scheme enhances access to education for SC students.
• Increased School Enrollment: The scheme encourages parents to send their children to school, leading to increased enrollment rates.
• Reduced Dropout Rates: By providing continuous financial support, the scheme helps prevent students from dropping out of school.
• Improved Educational Outcomes: With adequate resources, students are likely to perform better academically.
• Social Empowerment: The scheme contributes to the overall social and economic empowerment of SC communities.
• Reduced Financial Burden on Families: The scheme alleviates the financial stress on SC families, allowing them to focus on other essential needs.

Eligibility Criteria For West Bengal Shikshashree Scheme

• The pupils have to be members of the Scheduled Caste.Students in grades V through VIII can participate in the program.
• The student’s household income should not surpass Rs 2.5 lakhs per year.
• Applications for this scholarship are only accepted from West Bengali day scholars.
• The candidate must be enrolled full-time as a regular student in West Bengal’s government-aided, government-run, or officially recognized schools.
• Once granted, the award will remain valid if the student subsequently applies to class VIII, maintains excellent behavior and attendance, and meets all other eligibility requirements.
• For the same term, the candidate cannot receive any other scholarship or stipend in any manner.
• This scholarship must be returned if it turns out that the recipient took inspiration for anything similar from another source.
• The applicant must possess a core banking facility bank account with a nationalized bank.
• Scholarships for study in any subject will only be offered for a full year. A student would not be eligible for a scholarship for that class for a second year if they had to repeat it.However, if the existing candidate is otherwise qualified, he or she will get the benefit if they are subsequently promoted to the following class.

Required Documents

1. Identity proof i.e. Aadhaar Card
2. Caste Certificate
3. Address Proof
4. Family Income Certificate
5. Passport-size Photographs
6. Bank account Details
7. Educational Documents

How to Apply For West Bengal Shikshashree Scheme

• The applicant must go to the official website of West Bengal’s Department of Tribal Development and Welfare for the Backward Classes:
• The Oasis website The applicant has to enter the following information in order to log in.

• Select the User Type
• Select the District

• Select Sub-Division Next
• Select Municipality/Block Next.
• choose the School
• Put in your password and user ID.
• Click the Login Button to log in now.

• After that, you’ll be sent to the Dashboard.
• The application is located on the left; click on it.

Conclusion :

The West Bengal Shikshashree Scheme stands as a significant step towards ensuring inclusive education for Scheduled Caste students. By providing financial assistance, the scheme has empowered countless students to continue their education without facing economic barriers. While challenges remain, the initiative has proven to be a valuable tool in reducing dropout rates, improving school attendance, and fostering overall development within the SC community.

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