Odisha to start Saheed Madho Singh Haath Kharcha scheme to curb dropout rates among tribal students in schools

Odisha government will start Saheed Madho Singh Haath Kharcha scheme in the State from this year to curb dropout rates among tribal students, informed Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling in the State Assembly on Thursday. 

According to the Minister, a decision in this regard has already been taken in the State Cabinet.

“Annual grant of Rs 5,000 will be provided to every ST student in the State having passed Class 8/10 and taking admission in Class 9/11 under the scheme. The scheme will benefit three lakh tribal students,” said Mahaling.

“A total of Rs 156 crore has been allocated for the scheme. The scheme will be implemented in a bid to curb the dropout rate among the tribal students in the State,” he added.

Notably, the dropout rate in Odisha’s secondary and higher secondary education is among the highest in India. This has been a matter of concern for the State government, so much so that it has come up with the Madho Singh Haath Kharcha Scheme, a first-of-its-kind plan to provide monetary incentives for tribal students, to encourage them to stay focused on their education and pursue higher studies.