Odisha Extends Financial Aid to ST & SC Students Pursuing Higher Education

Bhubaneswar: The ST & SC Development, Minorities, and Backward Classes Welfare Department in Odisha have announced financial assistance to ST and SC students pursuing higher education under Mukhyamantri Medhabi Chhatra Protshan Yojana (MMCPY).

Under this scheme, the state government will reimburse the course fees for eligible ST and SC students enrolled in MBBS and engineering (B-Tech and M-Tech) programs at various government-run institutions. This financial support covers a range of expenses, including admission charges, initial deposits, annual course fees (tuition fees and all compulsory payable charges to the institution), hostel admission charges, annual hostel/mess charges, as well as other incidental study expenses like the purchase of books, study materials, coaching, and tutorial expenses.

To avail of this assistance, eligible students are required to submit all relevant expenses, duly signed by the Dean/Head of the institution, to the District Collector for reimbursement under the scheme.

Starting from the academic year 2023-24, the entire component of expenses will be borne by the state government for all eligible ST and SC students, as stated in a letter from Commissioner-cum-Secretary Roopa Roshan Sahoo to all district Collectors.

This initiative aims to promote higher education among ST and SC students in Odisha and facilitate their academic pursuits.