Odisha to launch financial assistance scheme for ST students on December 31

Bhubaneswar, Dec 11: The Odisha government is set to launch the Shahid Madho Singh Haath Kharcha Yojana on December 31 to provide financial aid to Scheduled Tribe (ST) students. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi made this announcement during the Indian Languages Festival held on Wednesday. The scheme will be inaugurated in Ghens, Bargarh district, coinciding with the death anniversary of the revered tribal leader and freedom fighter, Saheed Madho Singh.

The initiative aims to reduce the dropout rates among ST students in the state. Under this scheme, students enrolled in Class XI and XII at government and aided schools will receive a one-time financial support of ₹5,000. Importantly, ST students who are already benefiting from other scholarship schemes will also be eligible for this assistance.

According to the guidelines, eligible ST students will receive the ₹5,000 incentive after completing Class 8 and Class 10 and upon their admission into Classes 9 and 12, respectively. This amount will be disbursed only after confirming the student’s regular attendance in their respective classes.