Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has announced a new initiative aimed at supporting tribal students with the introduction of the ‘Madho Singh Haath Kharch Yojana.’ Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling unveiled the scheme in the Assembly on Thursday, revealing that the Cabinet will formally approve the proposal in its upcoming meeting on Friday.
Under this new scheme, tribal students will receive a financial assistance of ₹5,000 each to support their educational expenses. The initiative aims to address and reduce the dropout rates among Scheduled Tribe (ST) students across the state.
The scheme will benefit approximately 300,000 tribal students, with the state government allocating ₹156 crore in the 2024-25 fiscal budget to support this effort. The financial aid will be provided to students who advance from Class VIII to IX and from Class X to XI, ensuring continued support as they progress through their education.
Minister Mahaling emphasized that this scheme is a critical step toward improving educational outcomes and retention rates among tribal students in Odisha. The ‘Madho Singh Haath Kharch Yojana’ is set to be implemented this year, reflecting the government’s commitment to enhancing educational support for marginalized communities.