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Free education to poor students

By Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, June 11 - The State Education Department today announced that students from modest family background would avail the benefit of free education from Higher Secondary first year, three-year-degree course and polytechnic courses from this year.

Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today told media-persons that students from families, which have annual income of Rs 1 lakh or less would be entitled to free education with immediate effect (this session). The announcement, according to the Minister, is in line with the promises made in its vision document by the BJP.

Sarma also said that the government is also taking up the matter with medical and engineering colleges and universities so that they too can be brought into the fold.

The Minister informed that the State exchequer would have to bear a cost of Rs 70 crore annually in the entire exercise.

Students (family), in case of government employee, would have to produce a salary slip, while those in private job would have to give a certificate from his or her employer. �In addition, certificates from Circle Officer and Mauzadar will also serve the purpose,� Sarma said.

Sarma added that the college authorities would have to submit the bill (admission) to the Directorate of Higher Education and the amount will be reimbursed to the respective colleges within two months.

The Minister said that in case of colleges where admission had already taken place, the college authorities will have to return the amount to students who would claim benefit under the new scheme.

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