The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has recently emphasized the significance of the Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA). This initiative is designed to counterbalance the educational service gap predominant in areas densely populated by the Scheduled Castes (SCs). By offering high-standard education, promoting socio-economic upliftment and championing overall development, SHRESHTA offers a robust platform for SC students to thrive academically.
Overview of SHRESHTA
The pivotal aim of SHRESHTA is to address the educational disparity shifting unfavorably towards regions primarily inhabited by Scheduled Castes. The programme paves a path for SC students to secure admission in Class 9 and Class 11 of CBSE or State-affiliated private schools. This endeavour lends a hand to SC students, enabling them to take advantage of the prevailing educational opportunities.
Eligibility Criteria under the SHRESHTA Scheme
The scheme extends its benefits to SC students enrolled in the 8th and 10th grades in the ongoing academic year. This further narrows down to SC students belonging to a marginalized income group with an annual income ceiling of Rs. 2.5 lakh.
The Two-fold Implementation of SHRESHTA
SHRESHTA operates on two fronts. The first is SHRESHTA Schools, where meritocratic SC students are annually selected through the National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS) conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Successful candidates gain admission to the leading CBSE/State Board-affiliated private residential schools for classes 9th and 11th. The entire student fee, including school and hostel charges amounting to Rs. 1,00,000 to Rs. 1,35,000 from class 9th to 12th, is covered by the Department. An additional bridge course is provided beyond regular school hours to foster students’ adaptability to the school environment, with the Department shouldering 10% of the annual fee.
Supervision of SHRESHTA’s Progress
The Ministry keeps a keen eye on students’ progress regularly. These findings are mandatorily disclosed on institutional websites, as well as the e-Anudaan online portal, to ensure transparency. The initiative also calls for the installment of cameras within institutions to provide live monitoring feeds. Institutions are subject to field visits by an inspection team specifically constituted for this.
The second mode of implementation is through NGO/VO-Operated Schools/Hostels. In this model, schools or hostels run by VOs/NGOs up to 12th grade receive financial grants for SC students’ school fees and residential charges. These grants range from Rs. 27,000 to Rs. 55,000 per student, depending on the type of school, with the same monitoring procedures in place as mode one.
Impact Analysis of the SHRESHTA Scheme
SHRESHTA has positively influenced the lives of many beneficiaries since its inception. As of December 2023, the total number of beneficiaries reached 7,543. For the academic year 2023-24, the scheme has seen 2,564 students gaining admission to 142 Private Residential Schools. The initiative has also managed to reimburse up to Rs. 30.55 Crore for school fees, thus substantially reducing the education expenditure burden for economically marginalized SC students.
