Free excursion for OBC, minority students

The State government has decided to introduce a free four-day excursion for backward classes and minority students studying in VIII, IX and X standards in government high schools across the State from this academic year. 

The tourism department on November 6 issued a notification releasing Rs 3.15 crore for government schools and hostels to take the backward classes and minority students on a ‘Karnataka Darshan’ tour.

Presently, students belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes are being taken on a free annual tour under the special component programme. For the first time, the facility has been extended to students belonging to the OBCs and minority communities. This programme is part of the budget announcement made by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who also hold the finance portfolio.

As per the government order issued by the Tourism department, Rs 3,500 is the excursion cost per student. This will meet the expenses of travel, food and accommodation. As many as 50 students from a school and totally 300 students per district will get the opportunity. Nearly 9,000 students will be going on Karnataka Darshan this year. An estimated Rs 5.25 crore is needed for the Karnataka Darshan programme for SC/ST students, official sources said.