An Empirical Study on Government Scholarship of West Bengal

The need of scholarship arises from the recognition that financial constraints often impede deserving individuals, especially from marginalised communities from accessing quality education. Scholarship is aimed at removing financial barriers, eliminating social inequality, supporting cultural diversity, developing talent of regional students, empowering women in education, developing student skills, generating interest in research, strengthening vulnerable communities. The study has been designed to know the socio- economic background of the students of Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal, India who get different types of government scholarships along with in what way students spent their scholarship-money. This study also intends to enquire the obstacles faced by the students to get government scholarship and how far the different government scholarship facilities motivate the students towards higher education? The study has been conducted during the month of February, 2024. The data have been collected through the self-made interview schedule. We have taken fifteen schools located at different parts of Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal, India. From each selected school we have taken interview of ten students. Among these ten students, five students are from Class X and five students are from Class XII. It has been seen that 65% students get government scholarship and 35% students do not get any government scholarship. Among these 65% students who get government scholarship, boys are 54% and girls are 46%. Among these 35% students who do not get any government scholarship, there are18.67% students did not get this scholarship opportunity due to un reserved category, 3.33% students did not get any government scholarship due to bank account problem, 3.33% students did not get any government scholarship due to lack of valid documents,1.33% students did not get any government scholarship due to inappropriate age , 7.33%students did not get any government scholarship due to low marks in examination, 0.67% students did not get any government scholarship due to high family income.