Ever since India got independence, government envisaged to uplift the downtrodden especially, the SC & ST communities. To this effect, the government has come up with different kinds of programs and schemes, but when we look at these abovementioned schemes from the point of view of implementation, it appears that much is said than done. In other words, much remains to be done. The writer seeks to address the issue with particular reference to education and career.

 It is understood that employment opportunities are open for 100,000 IT professionals. It is also known that 10 lakh unemployed engineering graduates are waiting for jobs. The above two statements sound paradoxical because the number of students qualified and in-waiting for jobs is more than the number denoting the requirement of professionals to be employed. Apart from the above two statements (i.e. figures stating available number of employment opportunities and the number of students qualified and unemployed), a study report in its findings says that only 5% of the engineering graduates are employable (As per newspaper reports). The said context leaves one to wonder as to who is correct and what is true.

 All the above statements appear to be true whenever we talk of unemployment or underemployment. We should ensure that our schemes are implemented with thrust on ‘Quality Teaching’ which is quite imperative.

‘Quality Education’ in true sense must lead a student to discover his or her self. Education in the present days is quantified. The private partnerships in higher education are providing opportunities to get admission into a course only. They fail to disseminate the essence of knowledge to the students.

India has 367 universities, 6216 professional colleges with hundreds of courses and lakhs of intakes. The figures are ‘big’ but the proud ‘ians’ are less.

 This information makes one wonder with thoughts like what could be the reason that is leading to the said situation, and who are the victims of the situation?

 The answers are multifarious. One of the reasons that can be attributed to it is lack of commitment and consciousness amongst the managements while the other is want of dedication and devotion from the faculty. Lack of discipline and determination on part of the students is another reason. Fifty percent of the teachers, particularly those working in professional colleges are not eligible to teach. [As it is said “globe is round” like a circle, Today’s teachers are victims of yesteryears]. Hence, there is a need for the government to identify the attitude of the teachers. That is to say, it has to be just ascertained whether the teachers have any liking for teaching or not.

Teachers’ inefficiency can be overcome by providing them with on-hand training on modern ‘teaching techniques’ and ‘methods’ and also, by assisting them with mentor help to cope up with students’ needs.

It is high time that we thought and acted for improving the educational standards in higher education. To achieve this goal, priority is to be given to establishing more number of Center-sponsored professional colleges throughout the country. Objectively, mere establishment of institutions does not cater to the needs of the students, making arrangements to employ the required number of efficient staff is also necessary.

1) Quality education is the need of the day for every student to become employable.

The institutions, which offer quality education, have their own admission norms and procedures which include written test and oral counseling etc. Sometimes the admission procedure is also a hurdle, and often limit the opportunities for the students. Hence, additional initiatives/ measures by the government are required to sensitize, equip the meritorious SC & ST students to get them admitted into the institutions imparting ‘Quality Education’ both at state and national level.

 In spite of the best efforts made in terms of financial and other assistance provided by the government to SC & ST students for their professional education, it is noticed that most of them are still not finding themselves suitably employable due to lack of desired skills, which could be due to the deficiencies such as lack of strong fundamental subject knowledge and other professional skills. This is perhaps, due to their education in mediocre institutions prior to their admission into professional colleges, where the standards of education are also mediocre. To overcome this problem and to encourage and motivate the SC & ST students for admission into top class institutions like; IITs, IIITs, NITs, IIMs, ISB, NIFT, etc., Government should plan to provide quality education right from the school and intermediate (10+2) level i.e., prior to their entry into professional education stream.

 For this, the Government’s initiatives should be focused on strengthening the support programs that will whet the capabilities that will restructure and revitalize the competencies of SC & ST students to get them admitted into various courses matching their aptitude, attitude and interest.

2) Schemes available for SC & ST Students:

The following are some of the initiatives taken up by the government to support SC & ST students to pursue higher education:
1. Maintenance Allowance.
2. Fees Reimbursement.
3. Study Tours.
4. Thesis Typing/Printing Charges.
5. Correspondence courses including Distance and continuing Education.
6. Book Bank Assistance.
7. Upgradation of Merit of SC & ST students
8. Top class education for SC & ST students.
9. Free Coaching for SC & ST students
10. National Overseas Scholarship

3) Hurdles in meeting the objectives:

In spite of some special provisions made available through law, we still find most of the students belonging to this category not able to succeed in their career and fail to be employed. As understood, field experts have come up with some observation in this regard, which are given here below.
 
· Majority of SC & ST students are not aware of the support structure available to help them to attend GRE / TOEFL / GATE / CAT coaching during their engineering / professional education.

· Inadequate hostel facilities for SC / ST students in the towns / cities and in institutions offering a large number of self-financing courses in Engineering / Medical / Pharmacy etc.

· Students are also financially constrained to afford heavy expenditure on study material, text books, records, laboratory manuals, work shop dress material etc.

4) Measures to be taken:

To ensure that the SC & ST students enrich their subject knowledge and improve other skills, the experts opine that awareness be generated about the government schemes and facilities meant for them. Some of the opinions as understood are given below:

1. Much awareness on top class education and support schemes offered by the government.

2. Help desks to assist students on various academic matters such as (1) education (2) enrichment (3) employment.

N.B. The author is also available to attend to students’ queries regarding government assistance and support schemes at thecareerguide@gmail.com