Date:05/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/05/stories/2008070559921300.htm

National

Incentive for minority students

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government will pay children of minorities a special school attendance allowance besides giving text-books, note-books and school uniforms free with a view to promoting education among them.

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh issued this directive at a meeting of the Minorities Development Department held at his official residence here on Friday. Later, an official said the amount to be paid for attending school was not yet decided but it could be on the lines of what is being paid to the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe girls.

The SC/ST girls are paid Re. 1 a day under the Savitribai Phule Girls’ Education Scheme of the State government.

Mr. Deshmukh also directed that the allowance be paid through the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Economic Development Corporation.