Patna, July 5: The beneficiaries of the post-matriculation scholarship scheme for SC/ST and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) would no more have to stand in serpentine queues in banks to get their money. Empowered with easy pay cards, they would be able to withdraw it from automated teller machines (ATMs).

The process of giving easy pay cards to the beneficiaries has begun in the state. Bihar is the second state in the country after Andhra Pradesh to have introduced this system.

With easy pay cards, the beneficiaries would no longer have to undergo the process of depositing cheques or demand drafts to encash their scholarship amount.

Easy pay cards are like debit cards, using which the beneficiaries would be able to withdraw their scholarship amount from the automated teller machines (ATMs).

SC/ST and backward class welfare department secretary Ravi Parmar told The Telegraph: “We have an agreement with the State Bank of India for issuing easy pay cards to the beneficiaries of the post-matric scholarship scheme. Around 20,000 beneficiaries have received these cards.”

Parmar said: “By August end, all the beneficiaries would have these cards.”

According to official figures, there are around 1.2 lakh students belonging to the SC/ST category and the number of OBC beneficiaries is around 1 lakh.

The scholarship amount varies between Rs 230 and Rs 1,200 a month, depending on the course being pursued by the students.

Prior to the introduction of the easy pay card system, beneficiaries used to get the scholarship amount either through cheques or demand drafts.

The system was quite cumbersome as the beneficiaries had to open bank accounts for depositing the scholarship amount and this caused delays. Sometimes the process took six months, forcing the welfare department to issue fresh cheques or demand drafts.

A format has been developed for collecting information about the beneficiaries and providing it to the banks.

The bank, in turn, issues easy pay cards. They are first sent to the districts concerned. Thereafter, it is either given to the beneficiary by the district welfare officer or by the institution concerned.

The SC/ST and backward class welfare department sends advice to the bank on the basis of which the amount is credited to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries, who in turn, can withdraw the amount.

Parmar said: “The new system has reduced the workload and also allowed a timely disbursal of the scholarship amount.”

About the delay in issuing easy pay cards to all the beneficiaries, Parmar said: “To begin with, banks have to make cards for over two lakh beneficiaries, hence, the delay. However, the same problem would not be there from next year because cards for only the new beneficiaries would have to be made.”

Parmar said: “A similar arrangement was also being made for the beneficiaries of Chief Minister Merit Scholarship Scheme.”

Under this scheme, students who secure first division in matriculation examination are given a one-time scholarship of Rs 10,000. In 2010-11, 17,000 SC/ST students and 32,000 Extremely Backward Class students were beneficiaries of this scheme.