Odisha girls receiving Rs 18,000 or more as scholarships declared ineligible for Subhadra Yojana

The Women and Child Development Department of the Odisha government has clarified that female students receiving annual scholarships or financial assistance of Rs 18,000 or more from any state or central government scheme will not be eligible for the Subhadra Yojana.

According to the scheme’s regulations, applicants must be aged 21 years or above and below 60 years as of the qualifying date to qualify for assistance.

Departments Asked to Furnish Detailed Reports

To implement this directive, the department has requested the Higher Education Department and the Department of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Minorities to submit comprehensive data regarding eligible students.

The reports must include the number of girls aged 21 years or above who received Rs 18,000 or more in a single financial year for 2023–24 and 2024–25. Arrear-based disbursements are to be excluded, and the data is to be provided in the format specified by the Women and Child Development Department.

Grievances Highlight Scholarship Usage

Reports stated that several grievances have been received from students stating that the scholarship amounts are primarily used for academic purposes and do not serve as additional financial support.

These concerns prompted the department to seek detailed verification of beneficiaries’ eligibility under the scheme.

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Verification and Compliance Process

Once the information is submitted, the eligibility of students will be reviewed. Those found exceeding the Rs 18,000 threshold per year will be removed from the Subhadra Assistance Programme, while eligible students will continue to receive financial support.

It is worth noting that this process applies to both the 2023–24 and 2024–25 financial years.