Kerala govt to offer scholarship of Rs 1 lakh to economically weak college students: Report

NEW DELHI: The Kerala government has decided to offer a scholarship of Rs 1 lakh to students from economically weaker backgrounds who have studied in universities, the Hindu reported.

State’s higher education minister R Bindu reportedly said that chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan will distribute the scholarships at the student talent award function ceremony at the Kerala University tomorrow, March 23. Finance minister N Balagopal and vice chancellors of several universities will be present during the event, the report said.

Also Read | CUCET 2022 Live: CUET a student-friendly reform, must for admission to central universities, says UGC chairman

The scholarship is provided to 1,000 students who belong to families having annual income less than Rs 2.5 lakh, the report said. Those students who receive high marks in various subjects in graduation get the scholarship, it said.

Bindu reportedly said that this initiative will be a huge achievement in higher education in the state. She appreciated the allocations made for education in the budget 2022-23 and said, “The decision to allot Rs 200 crore to the universities for establishing translational research centres as well as the announcement of a pilot project to set up industrial units and start-ups adjacent to colleges indicate the priorities of this government.”

Also Read | Final-year MBBS students of Ukrainian universities to get degree without exam: Report

In the Kerala budget, Rs 2,547 crore has been allocated for the education sector. Out of this, Rs 1,014 crore is for school education, Rs 452 crore for higher education, Rs 245 crore for technological education and Rs 15 crore for special education.

Meanwhile, chief minister Vijayan has said his government will take all possible steps, after informing the Centre and National Medical Commission (NMC), for enabling Indian students coming from war-torn Ukraine to complete their courses in medicine and other subjects.