3 weeks ago
Expenditure dept rejects standalone SAMRAS hostel scheme, panel flags lags
In India, the government helps all its citizens, and some groups need extra help because they were treated unfairly for a long time.
The government planned to build big hostels, like dormitories, where students from these groups could live while studying.
The hostel plan is called SAMRAS.
But a government department said the hostels should not be a new plan and should be added to an older plan instead.
A parliamentary committee checks that the government is doing its job well, and it found many problems.
Special police stations meant to protect these groups exist in only seven states.
Scholarship and coaching programs are not reaching enough students, and job training for people with disabilities is reaching very few people.
The committee also noticed the government is spending a smaller share of money on these groups every year, and it says the government needs to fix these problems.
The Centre's Department of Expenditure has declined to run SAMRAS — the proposed integrated high-capacity hostel scheme for students from marginalised groups — as a standalone initiative, advising it be considered under an existing scheme.
A parliamentary committee report tabled on 10 August found only 181 Special Police Stations for SC/ST offences in just seven states and Union Territories, decades after the 1989 SC/ST Act.
Free Coaching Scheme for SCs and OBCs reached 431 students in 2025-26 against a target of 3,500, with its Budget Estimate cut from Rs 47 crore to Rs 20 crore.
Only 8.04 percent of candidates selected under the National Fellowship for SC students joined in 2025, down from 27.32 percent in 2023; slots have stayed at 2,000 since 2005-06.
Skill training for persons with disabilities fell to 2,264 beneficiaries against a target of 10,000 in 2025-26, and the committee called the department's falling budget share 'a matter of grave concern'.
- Who
- The Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment, chaired by BJP MP P.C. Mohan, along with the Department of Expenditure and the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
- What
- A parliamentary report documenting the rejection of a standalone SAMRAS hostel scheme and shortfalls in schemes for SCs, STs, OBCs, persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups.
- Where
- New Delhi, India — Parliament of India.
- When
- Report presented to Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on 10 August, covering demands for grants for FY 2026-27.
- Why
- The committee says implementation of welfare schemes for marginalised groups is lagging, while the expenditure department cites a policy discouraging new standalone schemes.
Parliamentary Committee's View
Government Departments' View
SAMRAS hostel scheme
Parliamentary Committee's View
The committee examined SAMRAS, the proposed Scheme for Construction of Integrated High-Capacity Hostels for students from marginalised groups, and its report highlights the proposal and its lags.
Government Departments' View
The Department of Expenditure declined to implement SAMRAS as a standalone initiative, advising it be considered as a component under an existing scheme, citing a 6 June 2025 memorandum discouraging proliferation of new schemes.
National Fellowship slots
Parliamentary Committee's View
The committee recommended increasing the number of National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste students, unchanged at 2,000 since FY 2005-06.
Government Departments' View
The Department said that as a large number of slots have remained unfilled — with only 8.04 percent of selected candidates joining in 2025 — enhancement of slots is not considered necessary at this stage.
Free Coaching Scheme eligibility
Parliamentary Committee's View
The committee said the Rs 8 lakh family income ceiling may be a major hurdle preventing eligible candidates from availing the scheme, and asked that it be re-examined.
Government Departments' View
The Department said 14 central universities are already actively imparting coaching and proposed expanding the scheme through state universities.
Key facts
- Report
- Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment on demands for grants, FY 2026-27
- Tabled in Parliament
- 10 August, presented to Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
- Committee chair
- BJP MP P.C. Mohan
- SAMRAS
- Proposed integrated high-capacity hostels for marginalised students; standalone implementation declined by Department of Expenditure, proposal under examination
- Special Police Stations (SC/ST)
- 181 set up in only 7 states and Union Territories
- Free Coaching Scheme (2025-26)
- 431 students coached vs 3,500 target; Budget Estimate fell from Rs 47 crore to Rs 20 crore
- National Fellowship (SC)
- 8.04% join rate in 2025; 2,000 slots unchanged since FY 2005-06
- Budget share of Social Justice Dept
- Declined from 0.29% (2023-24) to 0.26% (2026-27)
Sources
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