New Delhi: The Centre seems to be moving towards withdrawing the twin eligibility criteria added recently for Dalit students to avail the post-matric scholarships, with social justice minister Meira Kumar urging the Prime Minister to consider restoring the old scheme.

The rethink on amendments to PMS, with Kumar on 1 February 2008 dashing off a letter to the Prime Minister, comes a day after Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi raised the demand in the wake of protests from Dalit students and attempted suicide by two of them.

The issue is far too sensitive for the ministry of social justice to argue it with states and sources said the stage is set for a rollback. While it is now for the PM to decide, the fact is that in a poll-packed year, to be followed by LS polls in mid-2009, the Congress-led UPA can ill-afford a negative campaign among a community being wooed by rivals like BSP.

The Centre had added eligibility criteria for PMS for 11th Plan, saying that for professional courses in private colleges, the students should have scored 60 per cent marks in the Intermediate if the admissions were on basis of class 12 marks and not entrance exams; and that PMS would be applicable for admissions under "free seats".

(Source: The Times of India dated 02 February 2008)