A scheme which would enable minority communities (SC) to study in foreign Universities would be formalized by the end of the month.
According to sources the scheme, based on the Ambedkar Overseas Vidya Nidhi (AOVN) meant for students belonging to Scheduled Castes, seeks to provide a grant of Rs 10 lakh to applicants based on certain conditions. The chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao recently announced a budgetary allocation of Rs 25 crore for the scheme.
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.”
The MWD plans to issue a government order (GO) announcing the scheme before the fall intake. “The scheme will help a lot of our students who want to but are unable to go abroad for post-graduate studies.