Students belonging to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Scheduled Caste (SC) communities will not have to pay any fee at the time of admission to government medical and engineering colleges in Odisha, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced.
Majhi issued the direction on Monday after being informed that several meritorious ST and SC students face financial difficulties during the admission process despite clearing highly competitive entrance examinations, an official release said.
According to the release, the Chief Minister has directed that eligible ST and SC students will not be required to deposit any fees at the time of admission. The fee waiver will also continue for six months after admission, providing students with additional financial support during the initial period of their higher education.
The move is aimed at ensuring that financial constraints do not prevent deserving students from pursuing professional courses in government institutions.
The state government will soon issue detailed guidelines for implementing the decision, the release said.
The initiative is expected to benefit meritorious students from ST and SC communities who secure seats in government medical and engineering colleges but may struggle to arrange the required admission fees.
The decision underlines the state government's focus on improving access to professional education and ensuring that financial hardship does not become a barrier for students from disadvantaged communities.
