Addressing the mediapersons at a press conference on Sunday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Scheduled Caste (SC) Cell State President Naveen Markande said that the Union Cabinet with an objective to benefit the students from Scheduled Caste Communities, has re-introduced the Post-Matric Scholarship (PMS) for Scheduled Caste students with major and constructive changes. Markande who was flanked by Raipur MP Sunil Soni and other BJP leaders, said the Union Cabinet has also approved an investment of Rs 59,048 crore, of which, Rs 35,534 crore amounting to 60 percent will be spent by the Central Government while the rest amount will be spent by the State Governments. Markande said in order to empower SC population in the country with education, the Post Matric Scholarship scheme is a major single interference of the central government. He said the central government is committed towards increasing such initiatives so as to ensure that within five years the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education meets the national average. The Post Matric Scholarship scheme is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme and implemented through State Government and UT Administration. The Scheme provides financial assistance to the Scheduled Caste students studying at post matriculation or post-secondary stage to enable them to complete their education. These scholarships are available for studies in India only and are awarded by the government of the State/Union Territory to which the applicant actually belongs i.e. permanently settled. Markande said the Union Cabinet has stressed upon proper implementation of this scheme so that timely payments can be released apart from ensuring complete transparency, extensive responsibility and continuous monitoring can be carried out. Markande while speaking about the amendments made by the Union Cabinet, said that a campaign will be launched among poorest of poor SC students, who have passed Class X examination, towards getting them admitted in the higher education courses of their choice. It is being estimated that there are 1.36 crore such students who have passed Class X, but are unable to continue their higher studies. The scheme will be launched with strong security measures on an online platform so as to ensure transparency, responsibility, work capability and timely assistance. It will be the responsibility of the state to examine eligibility, caste status, Aadhar and bank account details on an online portal. Financial assistance will be provided to students through DBT mode. Initiating the 2021-22 academic session, the central share of 60 per cent will be transferred into the account of students through DBT mode. Markande said the monitoring mechanism will be strengthened and through social audit and third party valuation as well as half-yearly audited account reports of every institution. He said the Centre mulled the idea of increasing the central assistance, which was Rs 1100 crore during 2017-18 to 2019-2020, will be increased by five times to Rs 6,000 crore during 2020-21 to 2025-26. The State Government will be the principle catalyst in the implementation of this scheme towards benefiting SC category students.