In a Cabinet meeting last week, the Andhra Pradesh government approved a proposal for complete fee reimbursement for eligible students. The cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has allocated Rs 3,400 crore for the Jagananna Vidya Deevena scheme.

Earlier, only SC and ST students were eligible for full fee reimbursement. After the changes, all students belonging to any community whose annual family income is less than Rs 2.5 lakhs is eligible for complete fee reimbursement. The Cabinet has also approved to extend the scheme to new courses including BEd, pharmacy and MTech.

The Cabinet also approved the allocation of a separate Rs 2,300 crore every year under Jagananna Vasathi Deevena scheme to reimburse hostel and mess charges of Industrial Training Institute(ITI) and polytechnic students.

Earlier, the scheme only included degree students. Under the scheme, now ITI students will receive Rs 10,000 per year, polytechnic students will get Rs 15,000, and students pursuing degree and above courses would receive Rs 20,000 per year as their mess and accommodation charges. The amount will be paid in two instalments, one in July and the other in December. 

Talking to reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Perni Venkataramaiah, Minister of Information and Public Relations (I & PR) said that the previous government had only spent around Rs 1,800 crores toward the scheme.

“The government will spend around Rs 2,300 crore for Vasathi Devena programme. We have spared nearly Rs 3,400 crore fee-reimbursement scheme against the previous government’s spending of around Rs 1,800 crore,” Venkataramaiah was quoted in The Times Of India.

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