Scheme for minorities to study in foreign varsities underway -

Telegana government has said that a scheme which would enable students from minority communities to study in foreign varsities would be formalised by the end of the month.

The scheme, based on the Ambedkar Overseas Vidya Nidhi (AOVN) meant for students from the Scheduled Castes, seeks to provide a grant of Rs 10 lakh to applicants based on certain conditions. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao recently announced a budgetary allocation of Rs 25 crore for the scheme. Sources said that the guidelines would closely resemble those of the AOVN.

An official from the Minorities Welfare Department (MWD) told the media that the file seeking the CM’s approval has already been circulated. A cabinet note would be prepared if it is to be put up before the cabinet, the source added. Explaining the guidelines, the official said, “An income limit of Rs 2.5 lakh per annum has been fixed. The age limit is 35. The funds will be released in two installments as and when the students get admission in the university. The fee of the visa will be reimbursed to the applicant once the visa and valid receipts are shown. The student will have to submit utilisation certificates.”

Furthermore, a scheme is to be announced before the fall intake by MWD. “The scheme will help a lot of our students who want to but are unable to go abroad for post-graduate studies. We will make sure that the government order (GO) is released much before the fall intake. We are certain that the CM will look into the matter at the earliest,” said MWD special secretary Syed Omar Jaleel.