MOOVALUR RAMAMIRTHAM AMMAIYAR NINAIVU PUTHUMAI PENN THITTAM
Hon'ble Minister for Finance and Human Resources Management, Government of Tamil Nadu during the Budget Speech in the Legislative Assembly on 18th March 2022 has announced this scheme.
“Recognizing that the enrolment ratio of girl students from Government schools in higher education is very low and to promote higher education among girls belonging to the economically weaker families, the Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Marriage Assistance scheme shall be transformed as the Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Higher Education Assurance Scheme. All girl students who studied from Classes 6 to 12 in Government schools will be paid Rs.1,000/- per month directly into their bank account till the uninterrupted completion of their undergraduate degree, diploma and ITI courses. The students shall be eligible for this in addition to other scholarships”.
Under this scheme:
- Cash incentive of Rs.1000/month per beneficiary as DBT will be sanctioned till the competition of their first higher education. This will be paid on a monthly basis to all eligible girl students who have studied from 6th 12th Std. in Government schools.
- The girl students availing other scholarships are also eligible to enroll in this scheme.
- This cash incentive extended to any number of girl students in a family pursuing higher education at a recognized Institutions / Colleges / Universities.
- This scheme activity is implemented through online portal 'Penkalvi' wherein the girl students themselves can apply for the scheme directly.
- Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency is maintaining the online portal and assists the department in implementation of end-to-end e-governance mechanism of the scheme.
- The higher education department facilitate to open 'zero balance' bank account and to certify every six months in a year viz., 30th June and 31st December on the bonafide status of the girl students who had applied.
- A Separate Programme Management Unit (SPMU) for the scheme is to be established for monitoring the effective implementation of the scheme.
- Four core banks viz., Indian Bank, Canara Bank, Indian Overseas Bank and SBI have been identified to open bank accounts to the students wherever necessary furnish the debit card.
- The girl students should pursue their education in recognized course and college / universities (only first course of higher education will be considered as an eligible factor)
Salient Features of this scheme
By providing financial benefits to the girl students, under this programme negotiates a behavioral change in the area of reduction in higher incidences of early marriage and low ratio of enrolment in higher education, and retention of girl students in higher education. Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Higher Education Assurance Scheme therefore envisages empowerment of girls specifically who have passed out from Government schools.
- Promotes girl students educational status and instill motivation to pursue higher education giving them better foundation in both economic and social spheres including improving gender parity at higher levels.
- Enables the creation and participation of skilled women workforce.
- Incentive benefits of Rs.1,000/- per month per beneficiary, enables girl children to pursue education without incurring additional expenses and hindrances.
- Enable Girl Students to get involved in public spaces and enhance career opportunities.
- Ensures Socio-Economic Empowerment of women.
- Prevents drop outs beyond higher secondary and increase the retention ratio in higher education.
Steering / Monitoring / Committee
A State level Steering Committee will be constituted to review and monitor and coordinate and all matters relating to the implementation of the scheme. The State level Steering Committee headed by Chief Secretary will meet twice in a year (at ACS / Principal Secretary Level).
State Level Monitoring Committee (Department HODs) will be constituted under the Chairmanship of Director of Social Welfare which will meet once in 3 months and coordinate with all line departments and report periodically to State Level Steering Committee
District Level Monitoring Committee will be constituted under the Chairmanship of District Collectors which will meet every month and review the progress on a monthly basis.