Girls To Get Paid To Study After Class VIII !

New Delhi, Jun 26 (UNI) Authorities have hit on a way to keep girls from dropping out after eighth grade -- pay them.

According to the Human Resource Development Ministry, Rs 3000 will be put in every eligible girl's name in fixed deposit in a public sector bank or post office.

The Scheme will cover scheduled caste, scheduled tribe and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidhyalaya girls who pass eighth class and enrol in the ninth class of state or union territory government run or aided or local body schools starting 2008-09.

To be eligible, a girl who joins class IX should be unmarried and below 16 years of age as on March 31.

No premature withdrawal will be allowed, and the account mature when the girl turns 18.

Before getting the amount, the beneficiary must produce the 10th class pass certificate and a certificate from the Principal or Head of the school that she continued her study for at least two years after enrolling.

The bank holding the matured amount in the interest bearing account will then be authorised to transfer it to a savings account in the girl's name.

The Ministry said it would place no income-related restriction in granting incentive to girls, as the intended beneficiaries ''would generally be from disadvantaged section of the society.'' The idea is to promote scheduled caste and scheduled tribe girls' enrolment in secondary schools and reduce dropout rates.

Married girls or those studying in private unaided schools are excluded as are students enrolled in Central government-run schools.

The central scheme for 'Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education' estimated to cost Rs 1500 crore during the 11th Five year Plan was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today for implementation.

As much as one per cent of the total incentive amount each year will be spent on administration, monitoring and evaluation.

The Scheme will be evaluated after two years to improve on it.

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