The State Government on Tuesday launched a new scheme under the name ‘Green Passage’ to provide ‘completely’ free education to orphans from the Plus Two to the Postgraduate level.
The scheme, approved by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, would be implemented by the Higher Education Department, a CMO release informed.
“The State Government would bear all expenditures of the orphans to pursue higher studies. Admission fee, examination fee, tuition fee, laboratory fee and costs of boarding and meals in hostels would be borne by the State,” it said.
Government and Government-aided colleges, private colleges and all universities would implement the scheme.
“Education works as a strong medium for empowerment of orphans. The Green Passage will certainly provide opportunities to pursue higher studies and open up ways of bright future for them,” said the Chief Minister.
Now, a total of 16,382 orphans are staying in 272 institutions across the State.