Govt to pay OBC students' fee directly to colleges

The Social Welfare Department will pay the fees of poor Other Backward Classes (OBC) students pursuing higher education directly to the college managements.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, Social Welfare Minister H Anjaneya said OBC students with an income below Rs 2.5 lakh per annum can avail themselves of the scheme while opting for admissions to pre-university, degree, medical, engineering and other post-graduate courses in government and private colleges.

Hitherto, the students had to pay the fees themselves at the time of admission and then apply for reimbursement with the Social Welfare Department. “From now on the students need not pay the fee during admission; they only have to submit their income and caste certificate to authenticate their eligibility. The Social Welfare Department will pay their fees to the colleges directly,” Anjaneya said. The department will bear the tuition fees, examination, laboratory, sports and library fees, he said.

The minister said several students had complained that they were not in a position to raise the required fees at the time of admission and had approached the government for help. He said the government will be paying the fees of around three lakh OBC students during 2014-15, costing the state exchequer Rs 244 crore.

Students who have already sought admission and paid the fees can apply with the Social Welfare Department for reimbursement. The department will take steps to ensure that the fee is credited to their account by December, he said.

Asked whether private colleges would accept the proposal of the government, Anjaneya said it was binding on them (private colleges).