Bhubaneswar, Feb 13 (FN Representative) About 4.5 lakhs UG students and about 32,000 PG students in Odisha will benefit from Nua-O Scholarships scheme of Odisha government, Chairman 5T and Nabin Odisha Kartik Pandian said on Tuesday. Pandian who participated in Nua-O Fest & interacted with students from all colleges of Jajpur District said the cabinet has taken a historic decision on Nua -O Scholarships for students enrolled in General Degree & Post-Graduate (PG) programs in State universities, Government and non-government aided colleges including aided Sanskrit colleges under Higher education Department. He said the minimum scholarship amount for male students will be Rs. 9,000 per year and for female students will be Rs. 10,000 per year.
The students belonging to eligible SC/ST and Nirman Shramik Families will get Rs 10,000 (Male) and Rs 11,000 (Female) per annum Pandian said all students are eligible for the scholarships, except the students whose parents are Income Tax payee or permanent Government employees. The Nua O scholarships for the current academic year will be deposited in the bank accounts of the eligible students from February 20 onwards and completed this month itself. He further said a Nua -O Corpus fund of Rs 300 crores will be constituted from the coming academic year. Students who will excel in academic and different co-curricular activities will get a higher amount as scholarship from this corpus fund.
By August month, Nua-O Magic Smart Card will be given to all eligible students which will be a system of additional benefits like bus/train travel, free WIFI, access to online courses, skill development and coaching programs based on performance and participation in various academic and extracurricular activities. Pandian said that this will be a new era of student empowerment by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik towards realising his vision of Nabin Odisha.