Educated women play a crucial role in transforming the development structure of the nation. Women’s education is the foundation stone of women’s empowerment. The women when educated become the most powerful tool of social transformation and improving the quality of life. Therefore, in India women empowerment through women’s education can bring about a positive change in the attitudes of the society as well as forms a means for the social, economic, and political development of India.
A country must invest in the education of their daughters that will help them to lead a healthy and productive lifestyle. In many states of India, the girls and daughters are deprived of proper infrastructure for education due to various reasons including poverty, illiteracy, orthodox families, child marriage, etc. Indian Government has prioritized these issues by launching various welfare programs, schemes, and initiatives for uplifting the status of women in India.
One such initiative of the Government of Himachal Pradesh Government named Maharishi Balmiki Chatravriti Yojana to provide financial aid to the girls belonging to the Balmiki families. This scheme provides an opportunity for such women and girls to rise from their present situation of economic crisis and lead a dignity full life.
The Backdrop of Balmiki Families
‘’Balmiki” or ”Valmiki” is the cluster of communities that are united to form a single community, originated from a common ancestor Saint Balmiki. Saint Balmiki was brought up by a sweeper although originally belonging to a Brahmin family. He is the author of Ramayana, the most pious epic considered by the Hindus in India.
Balmiki was a caste that has been classified as the untouchables as they were allowed to do only three types of work that is sweeping, toilet cleaning, and scavenging. Children born in Balmiki families were forced to adopt the same occupation as their family and were ill-treated by other castes of the Indian society. Even today, the Balmiki castes are described as ‘’outcastes among outcastes’’ and face problems of discrimination and untouchability.The Balmiki communities are mainly found in States like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh.
Features of Maharishi Balmiki Chatravriti Yojana
Following are the features of the Maharishi Balmiki Chatravriti Yojana-
- This scheme is an initiative of the Government of Himachal Pradesh.
- The main objective of launching the Maharishi Balmiki Chatravriti Yojana is to provide financial stability to the girls belonging to poor Balmiki families of the state of Himachal Pradesh.
- The recipients of the scheme will be the daughters of Balmiki families residing in the state of Himachal Pradesh.
- The online mode is made available for the applicants, to submit the Application Form for the Maharishi Balmiki Chatravriti Yojana.
- The last date for submitting the Application Form of the scheme is 31st December 2020.
- The final date for the Defective Verification is of the Maharishi Balmiki Chatravriti Yojana is 31st January 2021.
- The final date for the Institute Verification for the Maharishi Balmiki Chatravriti Yojana is 31st January 2021.
- The official portal for filling the application form under the Scheme is scholarships.gov.in
- A scholarship amount of Rupees 9,000 per annum will be granted to the eligible girls of the state of Himachal Pradesh for their education.
Eligibility for Maharishi Balmiki Chatravriti Yojana
Every applicant who is willing to apply under the Maharishi Balmiki Chatravriti Yojana must review the eligibility criteria required for the scheme by the Himachal Pradesh Government.
Following are the eligibility criteria-
- The applicant must be a permanent resident of the state of Himachal Pradesh.
- Only a girl is eligible to apply under the Maharishi Balmiki Chatravriti Yojana scheme.
- The girl applying for the scheme must belong to the poor Balmiki family of Himachal Pradesh involved in the cleaning and scavenging occupation.
- The applicant aspiring to acquire the benefits of the Maharishi Balmiki Chatravriti Yojana must have taken admission in any government or private institutes or colleges for any course involved in post matric.
Documents Required
A scanned copy of the important documents given below must be uploaded by the applicant applying for the Maharishi Balmiki Chatravriti Yojana-
- Aadhaar Card number
- Bank details of the student
- Marksheet and certificates
- Applicant’s HimachaliBonafide Certificate
- Passport size photographs
- Professional certificate of the applicant’s guardian and parents. Such a certificate must be issued by the officer above the rank of Tehsildar.
Apply Online
Following are the steps to apply online or the Maharishi Balmiki Chatravriti Yojana-
Step 1- Visit the official website of the National Scholarship Portal.
Step 2- On the Homepage, click on the option ‘’New Registration.’’
Step 3- Read the instructions given on the Guidelines page carefully and tick on the checkboxes given and then click on the option ‘’Continue.’’
Step 4- A Registration form will appear on the next page.
Step 5- Enter the details required to be filled in the Application Form by the applicants including the type of scholarships, scheme category, name, e-mail address, date of birth, gender, etc.
Step 6- Enter the details of the bank account of the applicant.
Step 7- Choose between the identification details required whether you have to fill in your Aadhaar Card number or Bank account number and then click on the option ‘’Register’’.
Step 8- A One Time Password (OTP) will be sent on the registered mobile number f the candidates.
Step 9- The candidate must complete his login by using the One Time Password on his registered mobile number.
Step 10- An application Id and password will be provided to the candidates that will be required to fill the Application Form of the Maharishi Balmiki Chatravriti Yojana. Upload all the documents necessary for the scheme.
Step 11- Submit the Application Form. No changes or modifications can be made by the candidate after the final submission of the Application Form.
Check the Application Status
The steps to check the status of the Application Form of the Maharishi Balmiki Chatravriti Yojana is given below-
Step 1- Visit the official website of the Maharishi Balmiki Chatravriti Yojana.
Step 2- On the homepage of the official website of the scheme, a ‘’login’’ option will appear in front of your screen.
Step 3- Click on the option ”Log in”, and a Login Form will appear on your screen.
Step 4- Enter the entries and information required in the Login Form and Click on the option ”Log in”.
Step 5- A link on a new page will open ‘’Check Scholarship Status’’.
Step 6- Click on the option ”Check Scholarship Status” and fill in the details required in the form. Then click on the option ”Submit”.
Step 7- The status of the Scholarship will open in front of your screen, after a while.
Renewal of Scholarship
The procedure for renewal of the Scholarship of the Maharishi Balmiki Chatravriti Yojana is given below-
Step 1- The candidates must visit the official website National Scholarship Portal of the Maharishi Balmiki Chatravriti Yojana, for renewing their scholarship.
Step 2- On the homepage, a ” Renewal 2020-2021” option will appear under the tab ”Log in”.
Step 3- Click on the ‘’Login’’ option.
Step 4- The next page will appear in front of you where you will have to fill in the details such as password, application id, and the code provided on the page.
Step 5- Click on the option ” log in” after filling in the required details.
Step 6- A renewal form will appear in front of the candidate, where he is required to enter the required information correctly, then ”Submit” the form.
Conclusion
For ages, various cruel, discriminatory, inhuman practices have been observed by more than 160 million people that have been justified based on the caste system prevalent in India. The caste system is indicative of the rigid social hereditary practices that have ranked various groups of people in order of their occupation and descent. The division of the Indian society through the caste system is dominated in various spheres of life including marriages, employment, social platforms, and housing.
The practice of ” Untouchability” in the name of the caste system has made various sections of the Indian society poor, poverty struck, vulnerable, uneducated, and underdeveloped. Such practices have been severely condemned by the Government of India and the Constitution of India has guaranteed the rights of such backward classes and provided them with various privileges and Fundamental Rights.
The Himachal Pradesh Government has launched the Maharishi Balmiki Chatravriti Yojana as an attempt to end the caste-based discrimination and brutalities against the backward classes of the society by making an effort to raise the standard of living of such people in their states. The Maharishi Balmiki Chatravriti Yojana is a great initiative towards making India Self-reliant. This scheme has given importance to both education and women’s empowerment.
Education is a powerful tool to transform the lives of many women and to give a proper and healthy lifestyle to the depressed classes of Himachal Pradesh. Our organization Aatmnirbhar Sena is also working in line with the Government policies and taking actively participating in the proper implementation of the Maharishi Balmiki Chatravriti Yojana of the Himachal Pradesh state.
