Scholarships to all by Jan. 15

Post-matric scholarships to eligible students from all categories including economically backward classes will be sanctioned by January 15.

Addressing a media conference here on Thursday, V. Nagireddy, Principal Secretary, Social Welfare, said that this year about 26 to 27 lakh students from SC, ST, BC, EBC categories would be given scholarships worth Rs. 3,000 crore. All the welfare departments were provided with adequate budget and funds would not be an issue, he said.

He also indicated that government was thinking of enacting a legislation to prevent managements from demanding fee in advance from students eligible for scholarships. Out of the total applications, 10.62 lakh were renewal cases and 70 per cent of these students were already sanctioned scholarships and remaining would be covered by December 25, he said.
Sudden crisis

Admitting that there was some delay in disbursement due to sudden crisis in the State, he said with online processing extended even for renewal cases along with fresh applications for scholarships, the process was being expedited. The last date for submitting fresh applications for scholarships was December 31, he added.

A. Vidyasagar, Principal Secretary, BC Welfare said bulk of 26 lakh applications belonged to BCs.

Of about 15 lakh applications, 6.76 lakh applications for renewals were received so far and amount was released to 3.2 lakh students and others would get by December 25.

The amount for 6.8 lakh fresh applications would be released by January 15.