Post-SSLC students belonging to backward classes, who decide to stay outside hostels while pursuing their studies, would be paid a stipend of Rs 1,500 a month for ten months towards accommodation and food expenses, Social Welfare Minister H Anjaneya announced on Saturday.

Addressing a press conference in Bangalore, Anjaneya said the new scheme christened “Vidyasiri” would be launched by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bangalore on October 1.

The minister said as many as 20,000 OBC students across the State would be provided the stipend. Category-1 students whose family annual income is less than Rs 2.5 lakh and students belonging to category 2A, 3A and 3B whose family annual income is less than Rs one lakh are eligible for the scheme.

The amount will be directly credited to the bank accounts of the students. They can apply online by logging on to www.backwardclasses.kar.nic.in

The department decided to start the scheme to enable students continue their studies by residing in rented houses on account of shortage of hostels.

He said the government has hiked the scholarship to OBC students pursuing higher studies, ranging between Rs 1,600 and Rs 3,500 per annum depending to the course opted.

He said the department has taken up construction of 2,670 rooms and 2,766 toilets in the existing hostels for SC/ST students. The government has spent Rs 8.02 crore towards sponsoring higher education for 63 SC/ST students who had secured admissions in universities abroad. The government was ready to construct English medium residential schools in assembly constituencies, if MLA could arrange for 10 acre of land. The construction of the residential schools will be taken up at a cost of Rs eight crore with central assistance, he said. On the HC issuing notice to him following a petition alleging that he had not taken the oath in accordance with the constitution, Anjaneya said he had taken oath in the name of social reformer Basavanna.

Havanoor Award

The State government has decided to present an annual award in the name of former Law Minister L G Havanoor on Valmiki Jayanthi.

Social Welfare Minister H Anjaneya told reporters that the government has decided to do away the practice of presenting “Valmiki awards” to 10 to 15 personalities. Instead, one award will be presented in the name of Havanoor, who is also the first chairman of the Karnataka Backward Classes Commission. The award will carry a cash prize of Rs two lakh and a citation and will be presented on October 18 this year.