Written question asked by Lord Avebury (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Northover (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 7 February 2012.

India

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the debate on international development policy on 1 December 2011, what initiatives they have taken in connection with the Secretary of State for International Development's recent visit to India concerning the Dalit communities there, particularly with a view to ensuring that Dalit girls enter and remain in education.

Answer: We are pressing ahead with the design of a stipend scheme benefiting over 200,000 tribal and Dalit girls in Orissa, conditional on their enrolment and regular attendance at secondary school. In addition we will continue to support free schooling and residential hostels for some of the poorest Dalit, tribal and Muslim girls across India as part of our contribution to the Indian Government's Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (basic education) and Mahila Samakhiva (women's empowerment scheme) programmes.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 15174; 735 c48-9WA
Session: 2010-12
Related items: International Development Policy
Thursday, 1 December 2011
Parliamentary proceedings
House of Lords
Subjects: Development aid Women Education India Dalits
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk