Gandhinagar

The Gujarat government today announced extension of benefits of its youth self-reliance scheme to the diploma-to-degree engineering students too.

The Mukhyamantri Yuva Swavlamban Yojna, with provisions of financial and other assistance for bright students from all castes, was announced in September last year apparently to pacify the Patel community and other communities agitating for reservation under OBC quota.

At that time, only the (Class XII passout) students of Gujarat board from Economically Backward Classes (EBCs) having family income of less than Rs 4.5 lakh per annum and pursuing degree courses were covered under the scheme.

Now, Chief Minister Anandiben Patel has announced that diploma engineering students, who have secured more than 65 per cent and took admission in degree engineering course are also covered under this scheme.

“Family income of such beneficiary students, irrespective of their caste, should not be more than Rs 4.5 lakh per annum,” an official press release said.

Such students will get financial aid of Rs 50,000 as annual tuition fee, Rs 5,000 to buy textbooks and Rs 12,000 towards lodging an boarding facilities, stated the release, adding that more than 5000 diploma students will be benefited from this scheme.