The Chhattisgarh Government has launched a scholarship programme for the children of tendu patta (leaves) workers in the State. The State Minor Forest Produce (Trading & Development) Co-operative Federation under the Forest Department has launched the programme to help children of tendu patta workers take up professional courses.
The programme was launched at the instance of Chief Minister Raman Singh to encourage vocational education in the State. Under the programme, the selected students would be provided a cash scholarship of upto Rs 25,000.The State Minor Forest Produce (Trading & Development) Co-operative Federation Managing Director and Principal Chief Conservator of Forest AK Singh here said that the students studying in the Government recognised vocational schools will benefit from the scheme.
The scholarship programme include courses in Medicine, Masters in Business Administration (MBA) , law, Nursing, Pharmacy and other technical and vocational courses, he said.The Government will consider those courses as vocational education where the entry level qualification is class 12th pass and above.
One student each would be selected from each of the Primary Minor Forest Produce Co-operative Society area and selected students would get a scholarship of Rs 10,000 on the first year and Rs 5,000 each in the subsequent years until the completion of the course, he said.He said that if the Cooperative society receives more than one application, the scholarship would be awarded to the student with the highest score in the class 12th
examination. The last date for receiving the application has been fixed at September 30. The application would be received at the Office of the Primary Minor Forest Produce Co-operative Society, he said.He also clarified that the selected students will be eligible to receive their second installment only if they secure atleast 60 per cent marks in the first year of their course.