SRINAGAR: The Tribal Affairs Department has launched a new scheme for government-sponsored coaching of Tribal Students aspiring for UPSC Civil Services Examination. Under the Stars-100 initiative for coaching 100 students from tribal communities will be selected for intensive coaching and educational support.
The scheme for coaching in Civil Services Examination is yet another initiative for tribal education after the launch of Technology-Enabled Education Scheme (TEES), NEET/JEE coaching and special scholarship aimed at providing the much required coaching facilities which the students are unable to afford.
Secretary, Tribal Affairs Department, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary informed that in line with announcement made by the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha for a focused approached towards tribal welfare, the department as prioritised education as key sector in the annual action plan this year. Chief Secretary, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta as Chairman of apex executive committee for tribal welfare has laid special focus on tribal education and directed for proactive measures in this regard.
Under the Stars-100 scheme the graduate students from underprivileged and vulnerable sections of tribal communities and meritorious students aspirating to appear in the Civil Services Examination conducted by the UPSC and J&K PSC will be selected through online application.
The coaching support by the department will cover both tuition fee and study material through the empanelled coaching institutions. Students selected through the process will have to submit an undertaking for maintaining attendance. The department has also devised a mechanism for regular evaluation and monitoring of quality of coaching at the empanelled institutions.
The scheme rolled out by the department will be implemented through Education wing of Tribal Research Institute, established in August 2021, which has already made a mark at national level in tribal culture, literature, education, planning, action research and planning for tribal welfare and empowerment.
Deputy Director TRI, Dr Abdul Khabir informed that a notification has been issued by the TRI seeking applications from the aspiring eligible tribal youth for coaching in Civil Services Examination courses for which last date of application has been fixed as July 20th, 2022 and courses will begin at Jammu and Srinagar in August.
In a significant move for gender equality and employment the department has notified 30% reservation for girl students. The schemes endeavours to strike a fine balance between economic status and merit of students while giving due representation to vulnerable areas within the tribal population. It has also been integrated with the Aspirational Block scheme of the J&K Government for providing equitable educational facilities and services in such remote areas.
The coaching scheme has been included in the CapEx budget of the Tribal Affairs Department in order to ensure regular annual budgetary support and further improvement based on requirement of students. A similar initiative for hostel students is also under consideration to provide in-house coaching and Skilling of students.
