Special scholarship for tribal students approved: Kyndiah

Shillong, Aug 2 (UNI) The Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs has introduced a new scholarship scheme for meritorious Scheduled Tribe (ST) students.

The scheme of the top class education for ST students will begin from 2007-08 with an aim to encourage ST students to pursue degree and post-graduate level courses in the select list of institutes where the scholarship scheme would be operative, Union Tribal Affairs Minister P R Kyndiah said.

Mr Kyndiah said the Union Cabinet had also given its seal of approval to the scholarship scheme.

As per the scheme, Rs 3.72 lakh per year would be provided to the students who wanted to pursue Commercial Pilot Training in the private sector flying club.

Mr Kyndiah said 127 institutes had been approved under the scheme in both the government and private sectors, covering management studies, medicine, engineering, law and commercial courses.

For admission to the courses, the family income of ST students from all sources should not exceed Rs two lakh per annum, the Union Minister said adding that the ST students would be awarded scholarship covering full tuition fee and other non-refundable dues in respect of government and non-government funded institutions.

As far as private sector institutions were concerned, the scholarship would be a ceiling of Rs two lakh per year per student and Rs 3.72 lakh per year per student for the private sector flying clubs for Commercial Pilot Training.

He also said there would be additional funds provided for living expenses of Rs 2,220 per month per student, books and stationery worth Rs 3,000 per year per student and a one-time financial assistance of Rs 45,000 for the cost of a computer along with its accessories.

UNI