Govt raises monetary aid from Rs 40K to 1.5L
NEW DELHI: After the success of the Delhi government's scheme to give free coaching to the students from SC/ST/OBC community appearing for competitive exams, the Delhi government decided to increase the monetary allocation of Jai Bhim Mukhyamantri Pratibha Vikas Yojana from Rs 40,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh, announced SC/ST Welfare Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam.
"Thirty-five underprivileged students who got free coaching under an Aam Aadmi Party government scheme have cracked the JEE Main and NEET examination this year. After this success, we want more coaching institutes to come, therefore, we will increase the money per student from Rs 40,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh," said Gautam.
He added that four of the 35 students have secured admissions to leading technical institutions such as IIT-Delhi, Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology, National Institute of Technology Delhi and IIT BHU, Gautam said.
According to the minister, these students come from low-income families belonging to the Scheduled Castes and cannot afford the fee of private coaching institutes. He added that the Delhi government was providing them financial aid to secure admissions.
Of the 107 students who got free coaching for engineering and medical entrance exams under the Jai Bhim Mukhyemantri Pratibha Vikas Yojana, 13 have been declared successful in the JEE Main and 22 in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).
Under the scheme, which was launched by the AAP dispensation last year, as many as 4,953 students enrolled for availing coaching for various exams, including those conducted by the UPSC, SSC, banks, Railway Recruitment Board, Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board and insurance companies in 2018-19, the minister said. Under the scheme, the Delhi government pays the coaching fee, up to Rs 40,000, to all identified students for a four-month course. It also gives a stipend of Rs 2,500 per month to every candidate.
"We want to give a better future and for that we have funds. The government under CM Arvind Kejriwal is ready to spend funds for proper causes and the Chief Minister has always stood beside the developments of the minorities in the city," Gautam said. He also explained that with time, the cost of living in the city has increased and also the fees for the big coachings have increased.
"I have reached out to all the coaching centres and approached them to join hands. The centres asked us to increase the money which we have taken care of and the cabinet will pass this soon," said Gautam. He also said that the government will also extend the time period of coaching classes as per requirement.
"This time they attended only four months of class but we will extend that as per course requirement so that the students get full training," said Gautam.
