Koppula Eshwar Promises Improved Scholarship Scheme

Telangana SC, ST, BC & Minority Welfare Minister Koppula Eshwar today spoke at length about the state's overseas scholarship scheme during the Question Hour of the ongoing Budget session.

He began by highlighting the fact that 3,676 students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds had benefitted from the scheme, on which the government had spent Rs 589.69 crore so far.

"Our government's overseas scholarship scheme has enabled many students from poor homes to avail themselves of the benefits of foreign education at premier institutes across the globe. Our students can pursue higher education in America, England, Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Singapore, South Korea, New Zealand and Japan. Although the program was in force before the creation of Telangana, before our party came to power, we have worked to enhance the scheme in many ways by brining in several changes in its implementation," the minister claimed.

"We have raised the amount of financial assistance from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20, and have also included students whose family incomes are Rs 5 lakh per annum as eligible beneficiaries of the scheme. Further, we contribute Rs 60,000 towards each beneficiary's travel allowance," he added.

Responding to the requests made by the members to further increase the family income limit to Rs 10 lakh from the existing Rs 5 lakh, Eshwar said that he would soon hold discussions with Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on the matter.

He also promised to consider increasing the number of countries included in the scheme.