Govt's free coaching scheme leaves out general category students, sparks debate
India Today
The Ministry of Justice's Memorandum of Understanding with Physics Wallah has sparked debate over the exclusion of general category and Economically Weaker Section (EWS) students. The scheme, announced in November, offers free coaching to students from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Other Backward Class (OBC) communities.
A debate has emerged following information shared by the government through a PIB release on a free online coaching initiative for aspirants from Scheduled Castes (SC) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) preparing for competitive examinations, which does not include students from the general category or the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).
The information was shared by Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale in the Lok Sabha on February 3. A PIB release was issued on the same day, and another PIB release had also been made public in November when the MoU was signed.
He stated that the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has been undertaking various initiatives to promote inclusive access to quality education and equal opportunities for students belonging to Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, and other disadvantaged sections of society across the country.
The scheme, announced in November, involves a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Physics Wallah (PW) Foundation to provide free online coaching to 5,000 SC and OBC aspirants every year.
Free coaching will be allowed for the students preparing for the Civil Services Examination, Staff Selection Commission Examination and Banking Examinations.
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