Social Welfare Minister M. Kandasamy on Sunday said the government has been working on ways to provide free higher education to socially marginalised sections of the society.
Addressing students belonging to the Backward Classes and Minorities who attended an entrance exam to select candidates for civil service coaching, he said the government had proposed the idea to Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi.
Ms. Bedi had returned the file stating that the students could get education loan, he said.
Urging the Lt. Governor to reconsider her decision, Mr. Kandasamy said it was not easy for students from poor families to get loans from banks. The government had been working on ways to implement its decision to provide free education, he said.
The Minister bemoaned the poor performance of BC students in civil service examination. However, it helped the students pass bank exams. The scheme, implemented by the Puducherry Backward Classes and Minorities Development Corporation, provides for classes at Chennai’s Manidha Naeyam IAS Coaching Academy, a stipend of ₹5,000 for study material and ₹7,000 for accommodation and food for 15 students. As many as 174 students applied for the entrance exam.
