Centre nod to 15 lakh scholarships for minority students

“Thirty per cent scholarships would be earmarked for girl students and the income eligibility would be up to Rs 2 lakh per year,” Finance Minister P Chidambaram said.

To be implemented by the Minority Affairs Ministry, the scheme would be launched in the current financial year.

The scholarships will be awarded to students from the minority communities, fulfilling the merit-cum-means criteria, studying in India in Government or private higher secondary schools, colleges and universities. The scheme would also include residential Government institutes, eligible private institutes notified in a transparent manner by state governments and technical and vocational courses in Industrial Trade Institutes (ITIs) and Industrial Trade Centres (ITCs) affiliated to the National Council for Vocational Training.

The Government has said the scheme would enable students from minorities to pursue higher education and technical and vocational courses, making them employable.

Meanwhile, amongst other items, the CCEA also approved the revised cost estimates for implementation of deepening of channel at Paradip Port at a revised estimated cost of Rs 253.359 crore. Likely to be completed in 60 months, the project would enable the port to handle ships of 125,000 Dead Weight Tonnage (DWT) from the existing capacity of 65,000 DWT thus handling large volumes of traffic. The project is also expected to help de-congest the port.