Tribal students’ scholarships released, says Minister Sandhya Rani

Minister for Tribal Welfare Sandhya Rani on Thursday (December 25, 2025) has announced the release of scholarships for tribal students, reiterating the State government’s commitment to strengthening tribal education and ensuring financial support reaches every eligible beneficiary.

The Minister said that the government’s objective is to empower tribal students by improving infrastructure in schools and hostels, providing adequate medical facilities, and ensuring nutritious food. These initiatives, she said, are designed to instill confidence among tribal students and enable them to pursue their education without fear or uncertainty, with the belief that they can achieve their aspirations in life.

Referring to post-matric scholarships, Ms. Sandhya Rani stated that the coalition government treated the issue of pending dues left by the previous government as a top priority and resolved them promptly. She emphasised that funds were released in a transparent manner to ensure justice for every eligible student.

For the 2023–24 academic year, while the previous government had released only ₹18.67 crore, the coalition government cleared pending dues for three quarters by releasing ₹71.67 crore, benefiting 69,227 students. The amounts were directly credited to the bank accounts of the students’ mothers.

During the 2024–25 academic year, scholarship funds were released towards reimbursement of tuition fees amounting to ₹85.67 crore, which was credited to college accounts, while maintenance charges of ₹9.11 crore were deposited into the bank accounts of students’ mothers. A total of 42,203 students benefited during this period.

For the 2025–26 academic year, the release of funds to eligible students is currently underway. So far, ₹100.93 crore has been disbursed, benefiting 59,297 students, the Minister said.

Ms. Sandhya Rani asserted that through this structured approach, the government is ensuring continuity of education for tribal students in a stable, positive, and supportive environment. She assured that the State government remains committed to releasing scholarships in a timely manner in the future as well.