No double standards on kids, says government

In its reactions to DNA's report 'State's double standards on minority kids', published on April 6, 2012, the state social justice and empowerment department has clarified that there are no double standard on minority kids.

In a written communication the department has admitted that the Government of Gujarat was not in favour of the pre-matric scholarship scheme since it was not based on the principle of equity. The department has clarified that the pre-matric scholarship for the minority communities proposed by the Union government is not to be provided to the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Other Backward Castes (OBC) who are similarly placed. The view of the Gujarat government is that the Centre's proposed pre-matric scholarship scheme is discriminatory as similar schemes have not been extended to the SC, ST and OBC by the Union government.

Further clarifying about the disbursement of post-matric scholarships to the minorities, the department has said that there are no double standards involved as the Gujarat government is implementing post-matric scholarship schemes for the SCs STs, OBCs and the minority communities in equitable measure. It is implementing 100% central scheme of post-matric scholarship for minority students. The post-matric scholarship schemes have been implemented because similar benefits are provided to other disadvantaged sections of society also.

The Centre's pre-matric scholarship is not only discriminatory in nature to the remaining minority students of Gujarat, but also to the SC, ST and OBC students who belong to similar socio-economic background with similar educational status.

The matter of pre-matric scholarship to Minority Community students is also pending before the Gujarat High Court, it said.