Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students aspiring to pursue higher studies abroad will get easy financial assistance to secure admission in educational institutions that figure within the first 500 slots in world ranking.
As per the guidelines issued by the SC/ST Department to provide financial assistance, application should be submitted within a fortnight on getting the call letter for securing the aid from the government. Admission should be sought only on getting a confirmation of financial assistance.
The government would bear the entire expense for students from families with an annual income up to ₹12 lakh. One-time travel assistance, medical insurance premium, tuition fee, accommodation, living and visa expenses would be borne by the government.
In the case of students from families with an annual income between ₹12 lakh and ₹20 lakh, the government would bear 50% of the accommodation and living expenses. All other expenses would be met fully by the government in the case of such students. For students from families with annual income above ₹20 lakh, the government would sanction the tuition fees alone.
Minister for Welfare of SC/STs and Backward Classes A.K. Balan said in a release here on Wednesday that the guidelines were issued in the wake of a surge of complaints that there was ambiguity in granting assistance for overseas studies.
Within a year, the present government had sanctioned ₹53 lakh to six students. This was against the ₹63 lakh sanctioned to 10 students in five years during the tenure of the previous UDF government, the release said.
