Odisha Hikes Pre-Matric Scholarship For SC/ST Hostel Boarders

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Monday increased the pre-matriculation scholarships for  Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Scheduled Caste (SC) hostel boarders.

According to the I&PR department release, the pre-matriculation scholarship for boy students has been increased to 950 from Rs 750. Similarly, the girl boarders will now be entitled to Rs 1,000 instead of Rs 800. The scholarships were last revised in 2015.

An expenditure amounting to Rs 490 crore would be incurred annually towards the pre-matric scholarships for the boarders of schools under the ST & SC Development Department and School & Mass Education Department, official sources said.

It is primarily meant for mess management in the hostels and aims at the educational and holistic development of ST and SC boarders.

The government has also decided to introduce millet-based food items in the hostels menu to address the nutritional security of the boarders. The move is expected to benefit more than five lakh ST & SC boarders in the state, the release added.