Education is the only medium through which new heights can be reached in every aspect of life, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said on Thursday.

Even after residing in remotest areas and inhospitable conditions, it was will power that helped 17 tribal  students to succeed through ‘Choo lo Aasman’ (Touch the Sky) programme, he said.

He was virtually interacting from Raipur with the 15 boy and two girl students from Dantewada, Bijapur, Bastar and Sukma districts who have been selected for the National Institute of Technology (NIT) on clearing the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) for        engineering.

Baghel announced to increase to 40 seats from the next academic session under the programme. It was also announced for providing financial assistance to selected students based on their need and to pay whatever it costs for student Hemant Kumar Arya's eye treatment.

Chairman-cum-Managing Director of NMDC Ltd and Dantewada Collector Deepak Soni also                  participated.

The Chief Minister said the success reflects that there is no shortage of talent in Bastar region. If a chance is given, they can even surpass students from major cities.

Of the 17 students, 11 are from Dantewada, two from Bijapur, three from Sukma and one from Bastar. Last year 21 students had cleared the examination.

The ‘Choo Lo Aasman’ was started in 2011 where students from Dantewada and nearby districts are kept in hostels from Class 9. Along with schooling they are coached to appear in JEE and NEET examinations.

A total of 80 students are admitted based on the admission test. Of the total seats, 76 percent is for Scheduled Tribe, 4 percent for Scheduled Caste, 14 percent for Other Backward Community and 6 percent for general category.

NMDC bears the cost of total expenses of students under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activity. Every year around Rs 3 crore is spent on them.

A total of 845 students have been selected for higher educational institutes.