Centre for Cultural Resources and Training Cultural Talent Search Scholarship Scheme

Centre for Cultural Resources and Training Cultural Talent Search Scholarship Scheme

Cultural Talent Search Scholarship Scheme

Instructions to the Parents/Gurus:  The Cultural Talent Search Scholarship Scheme is implemented at the national level. There are hundreds of art forms practised in our country. Since the number of scholarships available are limited, only exceptionally talented and outstanding students need to apply.

Children whose date of birth is in between 01.07.1997 and 30.06.2001 (both days inclusive) are eligible to apply for the award of scholarships for the year 2011-12.

Minimum four years' training in the field of art form in which scholarship is being applied, either with a guru or in an institution is essential.

Students applying for Performing Arts are required to submit a certificate from the Guru/teacher imparting training, clearly mentioning the details regarding the training received by them, the Bio-data of the Guru/teacher as per the prescribed format in the application alongwith three (03) photographs taken at the time of training or any performance.

Students applying for Painting must attach three (03) specimens of their latest work (either original or photograph) and those in Crafts, Sculpture etc. should attach three photographs of latest work, duly attested by their Guru/teacher alongwith the Bio-data of the Guru/teacher.

Gurus/Parents are requested to ensure that their wards possess certain level of standard in the field while applying. Not more than three (03) students of a Guru/Institution will be considered for award of scholarship at a time keeping in view the large number of applications received and limited number of scholarships available in each field. If more than one Guru/teacher is working in the same Institution, then also only three (03) applications of that Institution will be considered for award of scholarship. Only those applicants, whose names are recommended by Central Selection Committee, will be informed about the date, timings and venue of the interview/test by post only, which may be held during the months of May-July 2011 at Regional Level.

The candidate must apply only in one subject/field in which he/she is confident because only one scholarship could be availed under the scheme. All applications of those, who apply in more than one subject/field would be rejected straight away.

Students in folk, traditional and indigenous art forms should mention in Column No. 7 of the application form, the exact name of the art form and also the State/Ut, where it is practised. Students in traditional art forms, crafts, traditions facing extinction and belonging to families of practising traditional performing arts are given preference. They have to enclose a brief write-up to justify their claim for consideration in this category, otherwise their candidature will be considered in general category.

Application forms issued in previous years, incomplete applications and those without relevant information and documents/specimens/photographs regarding training will not be considered. Those who are already receiving the scholarship from CCRT or any other Institution should not apply again either for new scholarship or for extension. A scholarship holder shall not receive any other cultural scholarship/stipend in case he/ she is selected for CTSS Scheme, without the prior approval of the CCRT.

Last date for submission of complete and duly filled application form in the CCRT, New Delhi is 31.12.2010.
Centre for Cultural Resources and Training - Cultural Talent Search Scholarship Scheme

OBJECT: The object of the scheme is to provide facilities to outstanding talented children selected in the age group of 10 to 14 years (as per the cut off eligibility dates), studying either in recognized schools or belonging to families of practicing traditional performing artists for getting specialized training in various cultural fields such as traditional forms of music, dance, drama as well as painting, sculpture and crafts, laying special emphasis on rare art forms, which are in the process of becoming extinct.
NATURE OF SCHOLARSHIP: Subject to availability of funds, the total number of fresh scholarships to be awarded every year will be 520, of which 125 may be reserved for children of families practicing traditional performing arts etc. and 20 for Specially Challenged children. The remaining 375 scholarships will be treated as general scholarships.

The talented children in the age group of 10 to 14 years (as per the cut off eligibility dates), studying in the recognized schools will be eligible to apply under the Scheme. In exceptional cases, the lower age limit can be relaxed up to two years. In the case of children of families practicing traditional performing arts, the condition regarding attendance of school for academic education will not be imposed at the time of application. But in the event of their selection, they must attend a school for academic education and their scholarship will be released only on submission of a proper certificate from the Head of the School..
The children whose parent's/guardian's total income is less than Rs.6000/- only (Rupees Six Thousand Only) per month will be given preference for the award of scholarship. However, the criteria of talent and potential will be taken into consideration for all the candidates.

DURATION: The Scholarship awarded under the scheme will be initially for two years at a time and is renewable after every two years till the completion of the first university degree stage of education or up to the age of 20 years, whichever is earlier, subject to the awardee maintaining good progress. However, if the Half-Yearly Progress Reports are not submitted in time regularly, then the decision regarding discontinuation can be taken any time without prior notice, as and when required. Children not continuing academic education beyond Higher Secondary stage, but wishing to continue their training in the respective cultural fields in which scholarship has been awarded, on full time basis and without undertaking employment etc. shall continue to receive the scholarship till the age of 20 years or the completion of training course, whichever is earlier.

The payment of scholarship will start from the date which may be specified by the Centre or from the date on which the admission is obtained in the approved course in an Institution or with the approved guru, whichever is later. In the case of those studying with the guru, the date of commencement of studies with the guru will be date of commencement of the course.

APPLICATION: Application for the scholarship should be submitted by the parents/guardians in the prescribed form in one field/subject only, after getting necessary recommendations from school/ institution and guru/teacher, where the applicant is studying and receiving training respectively, directly to the CCRT, New Delhi by December 31, 2010. Duly completed applications from children belonging to the families practicing traditional arts will be obtained through renowned Gurus/Institutions by the CCRT directly.

SELECTION: For the shortlisting of candidates to be called for Interview/Test, the CCRT will constitute a Central Selection Committee, whose decision shall be final. The shortlisted candidates will be informed by post only about the dates, timings and venue of the Interview/Test which may be conducted at Regional level during the months of May-July 2011.

TRAINING: The selected child will be placed for training by the parent/guardian either in a suitable institution in which facilities for academic studies as well as for training in the particular cultural field for which the child is awarded the scholarship, are available or he/she will be placed for training in the field concerned under an approved guru/teacher while being allowed to pursue the academic studies in a recognized school. The decision of the CCRT on the selection of the course of study and the guru/teacher will be final.

VALUE OF SCHOLARSHIP:

i)                   The value of scholarship will be Rs.300/- (Rupees Three Hundred Only) per month for those children who undergo their specialized training at the station where they are pursuing their academic studies at the time of the award up to the completion of first university degree stage of education. However, where the child is required to shift to a new station permanently for purpose of his/her specialized training and pursue his / her academic studies also on that station, only then the value of scholarship may be increased to Rs.400/-(Rupees Four Hundred Only ) per month.

ii)                 The actual fee paid for the specialized training to the Institution or to the guru/teacher shall be reimbursed to the scholarship holder in addition to the value of scholarship indicated under (i) above, subject to a ceiling of Rs.9000/- (Rupees Nine Thousand only) per year.

All payments of scholarship shall be made to the parent/guardian of scholarship holders, who shall be responsible to pay the approved tuition fee to the Guru/teacher and send the duly stamped payment receipts.
PROGRESS REPORT: The institution/guru/teacher under whom the scholarship holder is placed for training will be required to send detailed half yearly progress reports in respect of the scholars to the CCRT, New Delhi in the prescribed form. The progress report for the first half year from 1st January to 30th June, should reach CCRT by 15th July and for the second half year from 1st July to 31st December, by 15th January of the next year positively. If the progress report of the student is continuously unsatisfactory for the two half yearly or not received in time, then the scholarship will be discontinued, and the decision of the CCRT shall be final.

OTHER CONDITIONS: In case, where a change of the guru/teacher becomes necessary due to unavoidable circumstances, prior approval of the CCRT for a new guru/teacher in the prescribed Joining Report Performa and justifying the reason for change, must be taken.

In case the scholarship holder discontinues the training before the expiry of the period of scholarship without prior permission from the CCRT, the Centre shall have the right to cancel the scholarship and get the refund of the total amount spent on the scholarship holder till that date.

A scholarship holder shall not receive any other cultural scholarship/stipend in the concerned field without the prior approval of the CCRT.

The CCRT reserves the right to introduce at any time such changes in the terms and conditions of the Scheme as may be found necessary to serve the objectives of the Scheme.