In a significant stride towards fostering education accessibility, the Prime Minister's Education Assistance Trust has announced stipends for 4,81,047 students enrolled in the 11th grade for the current academic year. This announcement comes following the publication of a list during a meeting of the Integrated Stipend Program Implementation and Monitoring Committee.
According to reliable sources, a meticulous data analysis revealed that 82.32 percent of the students who applied for the scholarship have been selected, totaling to 4,81,047 students. Additionally, 6,936 students under the disabled and other quotas have also been granted stipends.
The selection process, overseen by the trust's HSP unit with technical assistance from the MIS Cell, prioritizes students based on economic need rather than gender.
Special provisions are made for physically challenged individuals, third gender, former enclave residents, and descendants of brave freedom fighters, provided they submit proper documentation attested by the relevant authorities.
It's worth noting that the total number of students enrolled in the 11th grade stands at 13,07,016, out of which 5,84,308 applied for the scholarship.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister's Educational Assistance Trust extends its support beyond stipends, offering admission assistance to economically disadvantaged yet meritorious students.
Financial grants are also allocated to children of employees ranging from the 13th to the 20th grade working in various government, semi-government, autonomous, and constitutional institutions. For ordinary students, whose parents' or guardians' annual income falls below two lakh rupees, this assistance is a beacon of hope towards pursuing higher education.
The admission assistance encompasses a wide array of educational institutions under the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, the Directorate of Technical Education, and the Directorate of Madrasa Education.
To avail themselves of these opportunities, students must ensure they possess a 17-digit online birth certificate along with other required documents such as photographs, national identity cards of guardians, and recommendations from educational institution heads.
This initiative underscores the government's commitment to equitable education access and empowering the youth to realize their full potential in the academic realm.