The Uttar Pradesh Government is roping in private coaching institutions to help students from the SC, ST, and minority communities to clear competitive exams for the civil services and professional courses like engineering and medicine.

On instruction from the chief secretary, the Department of Social Welfare is already at work on the details.

“Instead of running government coaching institutes at divisional headquarters, it would be more wise to arrange for admitting SC, ST, and minority students to the big (private) coaching institutes of the country,” said Chief Secretary P K Mishra, adding that the efforts of government-run institutions have failed to bear fruit.

He said that the government institutions, meant for SC and ST candidates, suffer from a shortage of teachers, while minority students don’t even get their scholarships in time, leave alone better coaching for competitive exams.

“We now need to change the strategy entirely to provide equal opportunity to all,” said Mishra. “It’s our responsibility to ensure that these underprivileged groups get the benefit of coaching from reputed institutions.”

In a meeting held a few days ago, the chief secretary asked the Department of Social Welfare to chalk out details within three months to bring the plan to fruition, said the department’s director S K Varma.

Initially, the programme will cover candidates whose parents earn less than Rs 1 lakh per year. Prospective candidates will be required to submit their academic details and aspirations to a committee, which will negotiate with coaching institutions across the country. Fees will be borne by the government.

... contd.