BOOK GRANTS: Grants for purchase of books are given to all eligible Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes students reading in class V to X at approved rate irrespective of any income of the parents/guardians.



CURRENT RATES OF BOOK GRANTS:

Class V Rs.20/- Class VIII Rs.150/-
Class VI Rs.50/- Class IX Rs.200/-
Class VII Rs.150/- Class X Rs.100/-

About 13 lakh SC students and 2 lakh ST students got benefits under this scheme during the year 2000-2001.



HOSTEL CHARGES:

SC and ST students of secondary stages (from class V to X) residing in hostels are given grants at the rate of Rs.300/- per month for 10 months in a year on account of hostel charges. In the case of SC students the hostellers coming from families living below the poverty line are considered eligible for the grant. In case of ST, there is no such income limit for the student. The proposal for rate of increase of hostel charge from Rs.300/- per month to Rs.400/- per month in under active consideration of the Government.



MAINTENANCE CHARGES:

SC and ST day scholars of secondary stage (from class V to X belonging to the families having annual income within Rs.18,000/- are given maintenance charges @ Rs.30/- per month for 12 months in a year. Selection of beneficiaries under this schemes are done by panchayats, municipalities etc.1,10,000 SC scholars benefited in a year. Maintenance charge increased from Rs 30/- per month to Rs.40/- w.e.f 1st April 2001. Quota for ST is unlimited. In case of ST day scholars, there is no limit on the number of candidates.



GRANTS FOR PAYMENT OF EXAMINATION FEES:

Grants are given to SC & ST students appearing at the Madhyamik Examination for payment of examination fees at the rate approved by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education.



RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL FOR SCHEDULED TRIBE GIRL STUDENTS:

In consideration of the backwardness of scheduled tribes girl students, a residential higher secondary girls’ school has been established at Belpahari in Jhargram subdivision of Midnapore district. The total intake capacity of the school is 360 scheduled tribes girls. The students are provided with boarding, lodging, garments, medical treatment and educational equipments at Government cost. There is also another Adibasi Chhatri Nivas for 45 girls students at Jhargram, Midnapore. There are 5 Adibashi Hostels in Purulia for tribal boys. The main object of the scheme is to provide proper environment for the poor tribal to carry on studies undisturbed in the hostels.



PRE-EXAMINATION TRAINING CENTRES:

To train up SC & ST job seekers appearing in WBCS(Ex), Typewriting & Shorthand, Clerkship and Miscellaneous Examinations coaching centres are being run at two places of this state. Altogether 345 SC & ST candidates trained up under this scheme.



COMPUTER TRAINING:

The Department has also arranged for giving training in computer to schedules castes/ scheduled tribes students at post metric stage in collaboration with Youth Services Department of this Government in their centres at Durgapur, Berhampur, Jalpaiguri, Krishnanagar and Coochbehar.



ASHRAM HOSTELS FOR SC AND ST STUDENTS:

Ashram hostels were constructed for providing residential facilities to SC and ST students reading in primary, junior high and high school stages so that they may continue their studies in congenial atmosphere. Such ashram hostels are normally attached to Junior Basic and Junior High & High Schools. Presently in total 260 Ashram Hostels are running with 7635 SC and ST ashramites. Besides boarding and lodging, all other essential facilities are also provided at Government cost. The Ashramites are provided with residential facilities, meal charges @ Rs 300/- per month per student for 12 months, garments charges @ Rs. 80/- per student per annum and other essential charges, sports & games @ Rs. 50/- per annum, medical allowances, bedding @ Rs.100/- for every two year and kerosene oil @ Rs.300/- per annum. Enhancement of meal charge from Rs.300/- per month to Rs.400/- per month is under active consideration of Government.



SCHOOL ATTACHED HOSTELS AT PRE-METRIC STAGE:

In West Bengal there are 1227 school attached hostels, of which, 1,081 are for SC/ST boys and 146 for SC/ST girls. Throughout the state 32,000 SC boys and girls 28,000 ST boys and girls are getting the benefit under the scheme for educational progress. Hostel charges are given to the hostellers @ Rs.300/- per month for 10 months in a year. Enhancement of hostel charges from Rs.300/- to Rs.400/- per month per hosteller is under active consideration of the Government.



MERIT SCHOLARSHIP FOR SC/ST GIRLS:

To encourage the girls students belonging to SC/ST communities in pursuance of education merit scholarship scheme has been introduced. A total number of 2400 girl students from class V to X in the State have got this scholarship during the year 2000-2001. The rate of scholarship for class V & VI is Rs.100/- per month, VII & VIII is Rs.125/- per month and IX & X Rs 150/- per month for each student selected. During 2000-2001 Rs.36,00 lakh was sanctioned for this purpose. Proposal for increase in number of beneficiaries from 2,400 to 4,000 is under active consideration of the Government.



Other Awards/Scholarships:

West Bengal Urdu academy confers different Awards and Scholarships. They are-


  1. Scholarship to meritorious but economically weaker students to urdu medium schools from Class VI and up to M.A.
  2. Merit prize for securing highest percent of marks in urdu in the final examination of Madhyamik, Secondary, B.A, B.Com, B.Sc and M.A.
  3. Award for urdu writer all over India.
  4. Pervez Shahidi and Malihabadi Award for contribution in the development of Urdu language and literature in national and state level.
  5. Governor's Calligraphy award for best samples of Calligraphy in all India level.

Board of wakfs, West Bengal confers scholarship to meritorious muslim students hailing from economically backward families, from the level of Madhyamik examination up to post graduation course.


The following nine universities and a deemed university come under the administrative jurisdiction of the Department of Higher Education:

Name of The University Date of Establishment Address Territorial Jurisdiction
University of Calcutta 24 January, 1857 College Street, Senate House, Calcutta-700073 Ph: 2410071/…76 2414984/…90 The whole of the West Bengal excluding the area of jurisdiction of other Universities established by law within West Bengal (i.e. districts of Howrah, North & South 24 Parganas (excluding Bijpur P.S of North 24-Parganas) and the Calcutta district, excluding some colleges and Serampore subdivision of the district of Hooghly).
Jadavpur University 24 December, 1955 Jadavpur, Calcutta –700032. Ph: 473-4044/4495/4643/2443 A radius of two ‘miles’ from the university office at Jadavpur.
University of Burdwan 1 June 1960 Rajbati, Burdwan, Dist. – Burdwan. Pin – 713104 Ph: (0342) PBX – 63913 / 914 / 917 Districts of Burdwan, Bankura, Birbhum, Purulia, and Hooghly (excluding Serampore subdivision).
University of Kalyani 1 November, 1960 Kalyani, District-Nadia, Pin – 741235 Ph:PBX-5828600/8477 Districts of Nadia and Murshidabad & Bijpur. Police Station of North 24-Parganas
Rabindra Bharati University 8 May, 1962 56A, B.T. Road, Calcutta –700050. Ph:PBX – 5577161 / 1028 / 3028 / 4028 All Institutions in the State teaching dance, drama, music and visual arts, if not affiliated to any other university
University of North Bengal 1 July, 1962 Raja Rammohanpur, P.O. – North Bengal University, Dist. Darjeeling, Pin- 734430. Ph: 551255/551324 Districts of Coochbehar, Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur and Malda.
Vidyasagar University 29 September 1981 P.O. – Vidyasagar University, Dist – Midnapur, Pin- 721102. Ph:03222-62297/61009 District of Midnapore.
Netaji Subhas Open University 1997 1, Woodburn Park, Calcutta – 700 020. Ph:2870157 The whole of West Bengal.
West Bengal University of Technology 7th August 2000 43, Shakespeare SaraniCalcutta – 700017 The whole of West Bengal.
Bengal Engineering College(Deemed University) 1856 Deemed University Status-1992 Shibpur, Howrah-711 103. Ph:6682674/4564/2916 Deemed University itself

A full list of courses offered by different universities in the state is available in the web-site of the Department of Higher Education (www.highereduwb.gov.in).



UNIVERSITIES UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS OFTHE STATE GOVT:

Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya 1974 P.O. Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia, Pin-741252. The whole of West Bengal.
W. B. National University of Juridical Sciences 22 April, 2000 Aranya Bhaban 10A, LA Block, Salt Lake, Eastern Bypass, Calcutta-700 091. The whole of West Bengal.
Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya 1 February, 2001 P.O.-Pundibari, Dist-Cooch Behar Malda, South Dinajpur, North Dinajpur, Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar

  1. Training programme for the journalists-to train them up in reporting in a prudent manner (Directorate of information).
  2. Appreciation Courses in the field of painting, drama, music, folk & tribal culture (Directorate of Culture).
  3. Audio-visual training-cum-production centre under construction for 2 years diploma course in films scheduled to start from July 2002, at Roop Kala Kendra, Salt Lake (Directorate of Films).In addition West Bengal Film Centre (Nandan) organises yearly Film Appreciation Course of 10 weeks duration.
  4. Epigraphy Course & Filed archeology to develop the manpower in the study of these fields of archeology (directorate of Archeology).


Training Centers

Sl No Address/Phone Training Programme
1. Mass media Centre Kolkata Information Centre,1/1 A.j.C Bose Road, Kolkata-700020 Rural journalism.
2. Nandan-RS Complex -Do- Appreciation Course in the field of Painting. music, drama & folk & Tribal Culture.
3. Nandan-RS Complex -Do- Appreciation Course in Film
4. Centre for Archeological studies & Training, Eastern India 43,Shakespeare Sarani,Kolkata-17 1. Six months training course in Epigraphy.
2.Six months training course in Field Archeology.

Various professional courses in Law, Education, Physical Education, Management, Engineering and Technology, are also offered through Some Universities and Professional Colleges. Appart from above, some certificate and Diploma courses are conducted in some Reputed Institutions and Organisations as mentioned below.

  1. DOEACC accredited Computer courses at O, A &B levels are conducted by the Institute of Computer Engineers(India) and Webel in a number of Colleges , a few Universities and in certain other Institutions.
  2. Certificate/Diploma courses in English and French language, Preparatory courses for the recruitment examinations to the IAS and WBCS and some other Public Service Commission examinations.

1.INSTITUTE OF CHANDERNAGORE
French Language Course ( Part-Time) The Institute offers a study of French Language and Literature in both Certificate and Diploma courses (Evening Adult Courses) since, 1966. The Burdwan University has decided that a student who passes the B.A. Examination as well as the French Certificate and Diploma Examination from the Institut de Chandernagor would be treated to have passed the B.A. Examination with French as a combination subject.

I. Certificate Course :
Duration : One year in two semesters (January to June and July to December).
Enrolment : 55
Passed : 35

II. Diploma Course :
Duration : One year in two semesters
Enrolment : 55
Passed : 19

III. Travel and Tourism Industry Management Certificate Course (Part – Time) :
The Travel and Tourism Industry Management Certificate Course was started as a joint venture of the Higher Education Department, Government of West Bengal with the Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Management House, Kolkata from June, 1999.


1. Eligibility Candidates, who have passed the Higher Secondary Examination in any stream, is eligible to sit for admission test in this course.
2. Enrolment in 1999 42
3. Passed 28
4. Enrolment in 2000 31
5. Course fee Rs. 1,800.00 only to be deposited at the time of admission

1.INSTITUTE OF ENGLISH
 119, S.P. Mukherjee Road, Calcutta –700 026, Phone 466-3039.
The Institute was founded by the Government of West Bengal in collaboration with the British Council in 1963. It is an autonomous institution under the financial and the administrative control of the Education Directorate. It enjoys full academic autonomy in devising courses and syllabus, conducting examinations and conferring diplomas.

I. COURSES :
(a) Diploma in English Language Teaching (DELT) :
 A full time course with the objective of improving the standard of English teaching and learning in the schools of the state. Two courses are conducted in a year, having duration of 4 months each (January to April and June to September).
(b) General Proficiency Training in English (GPTE) :
A part-time certificate course for develo­pment of basic communication skill. Two courses are conducted in a year; having a duration of 3 months each (February to April and July to September).

II. ENTRANCE QUALIFICATIONS :
(a) DELT
 (i) Practising teachers of English from Secondary and Higher Secondary Schools; Lecturers in English from Colleges; or
 (ii) Graduates with Hons. or M.A . in English.
(b) GPTE   Graduates in general or professional courses.

III. EXAMINATION :
Mid-term test Final Test Course Assignment Practice and final teaching. 3) Various short term courses conducted by the schools/centers of State Aided Universities on Women’s development, Social Welfare and scientific activities.