Assam's Fee Waiver Scheme Benefits 71% of College Students

Over 71% of more than 1.66 lakh students taking admission in various colleges across Assam have benefited from the fee waiver scheme meant for poor families. The eligibility criteria have been revised to include families with an annual income of up to Rs 4 lakh, using ration cards as proof.

In a significant move to support education, Assam Education Minister Ranoj Pegu announced on Monday that over 71 percent of more than 1.66 lakh students enrolling in different colleges across the state have availed the fee waiver scheme for impoverished families.

Previously, only students with a parental annual income of up to Rs 2 lakh were eligible for free admissions, but the limit has now been increased to Rs 4 lakh, Pegu shared in a post on X. Instead of income certificates, ration cards are now accepted as proof of family earnings, further simplifying the process for eligible students.

This year alone, 1,18,199 out of 1,66,123 students have benefited from the scheme, Pegu noted. The admission fees for colleges and universities are determined by the State Fee Regulation Committee, which sets an upper limit. Debunking recent reports of increased admission fees, the Minister clarified that the state government does not charge any fee from college students; instead, it offers a fee waiver scheme specifically for BPL (Below Poverty Line) students. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, sharing Pegu's post, revealed that the state government had paid Rs 103 crore to various colleges for student enrollment last year.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)