The Student READY (Rural Entrepreneurship Awareness Development Yojana) program is an initiative aimed at providing practical experience and rural entrepreneurship awareness to undergraduate students in the field of agriculture and allied sciences. It intends to equip students with hands-on experience, entrepreneurial skills, and indigenous technical knowledge (ITK) from rural agriculture settings, preparing them for self-employment and contributing to rural livelihoods and food security.
The program ensures that students gain the confidence and skills needed to contribute to agricultural transformation and self-sufficiency, fostering employability and entrepreneurship in emerging knowledge-intensive agriculture.
Program Components:
The Student READY program has the following major components:
- Experiential Learning on Business Model / Hands-on Training: Enables students to learn skills, become confident, and acquire entrepreneurial learning through practical experience in actual agricultural environments. This promotes the “Earn while Learn” philosophy.
- Experiential Learning on Skill Development: Directed at empowering students with practical skills for rural entrepreneurship, developing their capacity to establish and operate agricultural businesses.
- Rural Awareness Work Experience (RAWE): Makes the students familiar with village and rural life, allowing them to work with farm families, gain knowledge about farming problems, and assist in the adaptation of newer agricultural technologies. The students also work on rural development schemes.
- Internship / In-Plant Training / Industrial Attachment: Provides practical exposure to the students in industries and actual working environments, assisting them in the integration of theoretical knowledge with actual work.
- Student Projects: Students work on projects to investigate agricultural problems and test solutions, building analytical abilities and project management skills.
Eligible Disciplines:
The Student READY program is offered in the fourth year of undergraduate education in the following disciplines:
- Agriculture
- Agriculture Engineering
- Bio-Technology
- Dairy Technology
- Fisheries
- Food Technology
- Forestry
- Horticulture
- Home Science (now Community Science)
- Sericulture
Benefits:
- Stipend: A stipend of ₹3,000 per student per month is provided, with ₹500 from the State Share and ₹2,500 from the ICAR share, for a maximum period of six months.
- Operational Expenses: An additional ₹500 per student per month is provided to cover operational expenses related to faculty, contingencies, and other necessary expenses.
Mode of Payment:
- The stipend is made available under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) based on the student’s Aadhar UID.
- The amount of stipend shall be credited to the student’s bank account every month, and the university gets the funds in advance in lump sum.
- The stipend shall be discontinued if the student is premature in leaving the program or shifting his discipline.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Students who are studying undergraduate courses in SAUs/DUs/CAU/CUs of NARES institutions with ICAR accreditation.
- The student is expected to exhibit good behavior and deserve as testified by the head of the institution.
- No student should be involved in any strike, agitations, or take up part-time employment while undergoing the program.
Application Process:
- Registration: Students must first register for the RAWE-SPW program at their respective colleges on the notified date.
- Placement Selection: The principal or coordinator selects placement centers (e.g., farms or rural areas) where students will be placed.
- Reporting: After registration, students report to the designated placement centers, where they will undergo training and practical exposure.
Documents Required:
- Demand/Proposal submission as per the prescribed format.
- UC/AUC for the previous financial year.
- Detailed student list in the required format.
- College-wise expenditure and head-wise expenditure details.
- Unspent balance refund (if applicable).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Q1: How much will students in the Student READY program be paid as stipend?
The allowance is ₹3,000 for each student every month for a maximum duration of six months.
Q2: What are the qualifications for the Student READY program?
The scheme is available to students undertaking undergraduate degrees in agriculture and allied sciences at ICAR-recognized institutions. The students should have good academic records and abide by the conduct regulations of the scheme.
Q3: What is the official website for the program?
The official website and the guidelines for the Student READY program can be accessed through the concerned agricultural universities and ICAR institutions.