PNS|AMARAVATI
Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy deposited Rs 19.95 crore under the ‘Jagananna Videshi Vidya Deevena’ scheme as the first instalment of financial assistance to benefit 213 eligible SC, ST, BC, Minority and EBC students who have secured admission this year in the top 200 universities abroad ranked as per the QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) World University rankings.
Depositing the amount by the click of a button virtually here on Friday, the Chief Minister called upon the beneficiaries to pursue academic careers seriously and bring name and fame to the State and the country on international platforms.
He said the scheme would usher in a golden era in the State’s history as it extends financial support to meritorious students who want to pursue academic careers abroad but are facing financial difficulties. The government is investing more in Education than in any other sector and considers it as an investment in human resources and students should reach great heights using it, he said.
Students should not lose educational opportunities abroad due to poverty, he said.
Great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Dr B.R. Ambedkar pursued higher studies in foreign universities while CEOs like Sundar Pichai of Google and Satya Nadella of Microsoft reached top positions after pursuing higher studies in world-class universities.
Even US Vice President Kamala Harris and British PM Rishi Sunak also studied in world-famous Universities, he said, asking the students to remember the State when they attain top positions.
The Chief Minister also virtually interacted with some of the beneficiaries and their parents who thanked him.
During the TDP term the scheme lacked transparency and was marred in corruption had extended a meagre financial assistance of Rs 15 lakh to SC, ST, BC and Minority students and Rs. 10 lakh to EBC students, the YSRCP Government has been reimbursing the total tuition fee of Rs. 1.25crore fixed by the top Universities abroad.
TDP regime fixed an annual family income limit of Rs 6 lakh for implementing the scheme which was ultimately wound up as the arrears mounted to Rs. 318crores, he said, pointing out that the YSRCP Government enhanced the income limit to Rs 8 lakh to benefit more students. Under the scheme which is implemented in full transparency, Government would make 100 per cent reimbursement of tuition fees to SC, ST, BC and Minority students up to Rs.1. 25 crore and up to Rs 1 crore to EBC students who have secured ranks in the top 100 Universities, he said.
