Government to give engineering colleges 900 cr rupees for SC/ST scholarships

Under the same scheme, an additional Rs 150 crore has been earmarked for polytechnic colleges. 

In all, about two lakh students would be benefited under this scheme, which is jointly implemented by the State and Centre for SC, ST and SC convert students. 

Under the scheme, all compulsory and non-refundable fees fixed by the fee fixation committee were paid for backward students admitted under the government, management quota in self-financing institutions including minority institutions. 

The scheme has benefitted 80,715 students in 2014-15, 97,668 students in 2015-16, and 1.14 lakh students in the last academic year. About 1.30 lakh students would be benefited this year, said a Higher Education Department official, adding that Rs 900 crore would be spent on this. 

During the years 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17, Rs 66.95 crore, Rs 80.10 crore and Rs 134.32 crore respectively have been paid under the scheme. “This year, the government will pay about Rs 150 crore to the colleges, which would benefit more than 70,000 students,” the official said. 

He said in addition to the two schemes, tuition fee concession is also granted to first generation graduate students admitted to first year and second year lateral entry in engineering colleges in the state through single-window counselling. “Last year, the government paid about Rs 500 crore, which benefitted 2.24 lakh students in all,” the official said.