PREMSSD

The scheme provides a maintenance allowance of ₹500 per month for day scholars and ₹800 per month for hostellers, a disability allowance of up to ₹4,000 per annum, and a book allowance of ₹1,000 per annum to support the school education of students with disabilities.

The scheme "Pre-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities" by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India, aims to support students with disabilities in pursuing education, reducing drop-out rates, and improving participation at the pre-matric level of education. Through this scheme, maintenance allowance, book grant, and disability allowance are provided to eligible students with benchmark disabilities studying in Classes IX and X. The scheme is implemented in the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu by the Social Welfare Department, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu Administration, through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). The scholarship is available to regular full-time students studying in Government schools or schools recognised by the Government or a Central/State Board of Secondary Education. A total of 25,000 scholarships are sanctioned annually under the scheme. The scholarship amount is transferred directly to the beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Selection is based on merit and other criteria prescribed under the scheme guidelines.

> Objectives:

• To support students with disabilities in pursuing education and preparing themselves to earn their livelihood and find a dignified place in society despite physical, financial, and psychological barriers.
• To support students with disabilities in their studies so that the incidence of drop-out, especially during the transition from elementary education to higher education, is minimised.
• To improve the participation of students with disabilities in Classes IX and X and at the pre-matric stage of education.

• The applicant should be a resident of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu.
• The applicant should be a student with a benchmark disability and possess a valid Disability Certificate issued by the competent authority under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
• The applicant should be studying in the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu or should be a bona fide resident of the Union Territory pursuing eligible studies.
• The applicant's parent(s)/guardian(s) should have an annual income from all sources that does not exceed ₹2,50,000.
• The applicant should be one of not more than two children with disabilities from the same parents receiving benefits under the scheme.
• The applicant may be eligible if the second child is a twin and both twins have disabilities.
• The applicant should have an active bank account linked to Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
• The applicant should not be receiving any other scholarship or stipend for the same purpose from any other source.
• The applicant should be a regular full-time student and studying in Class IX or Class X.
• The applicant should be studying in a Government school or a school recognised by the Government or a Central/State Board of Secondary Education.

• Maintenance allowance of ₹500/- per month for day scholars.
• Maintenance allowance of ₹800/- per month for hostellers.
• Disability allowance of ₹4,000/- per annum for visually impaired/intellectual disability students.
• Disability allowance of ₹2,000/- per annum for other disabilities.
• Book allowance of ₹1,000/- per annum.