Ne w Delhi, July 12 (IANS) As many as 42,476 scholarships were awarded to students from minority communities during 2011-12 under the merit-cum-means scholarship scheme of the ministry of minority affairs, it was announced Thursday.

According to the ministry, an amount of Rs.115.72 crores was spent on the purpose during the year.

'Of these 32,723 scholarships went to students belonging to the Muslim community; 5,764 were awarded to Christian students; 3,463 to Sikh students; 516 to Buddhist students and 10 to the students belonging to the Parsi community,' the ministry said.

For 2012-13, the budgetary provision for this scheme has been increased to Rs.220 crore and the physical target has also been increased to 80,000 scholarships.

The scheme is meant for the students belonging to the minority communities studying in technical and professional courses.

The scheme also provides for earmarking 30 percent of the target for girls. During 2011-12, the percentage of girl students benefiting from scholarship scheme was 36.82.

This scheme was launched in 2007-08 and cumulatively 162,967 scholarships have been awarded till March 2012.