Balmiki Chatravriti Yojana is a scheme by the Department of Higher and Technical Education, Government of Jharkhand, to provide financial assistance and relief to differently-abled and orphaned students for pursuing higher education. The scheme gives such students access to educational opportunities by reimbursing fee charges, giving sustenance allowance, and study material access.
Benefits:
- Monthly sustenance allowance: ₹4,000/- for daily needs and study materials.
- Full Tuition Fee Reimbursement: Up to ₹10,00,000 annually for students enrolled in eligible institutions.
Eligibility Criteria:
General Criteria:
- The applicant must be a resident of Jharkhand.
- The student should be either orphaned or differently-abled.
- For diploma courses, the applicant must have passed class 10th from a recognized school in Jharkhand.
- For degree or higher-level courses, the applicant must have passed class 10th and 12th from recognized schools/colleges in Jharkhand.
- The applicant’s age should not exceed 40 years at the time of application.
Institutional Criteria:
- Enrolment must be in a recognized higher education institution in Jharkhand or India.
- Institutions ranked in the top 200 (Overall Category) or top 100 in discipline-specific categories according to NIRF Rankings.
- Institutions with NAAC accreditation ‘A’ grade or above.
- Institutes of National Importance or Institutions of Eminence.
Specific Criteria:
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For Orphan Students:
- Defined as per Section 2(42) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
- Submission of valid death certificates of parents and relationship proof verified by the District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO).
-
For Differently-Abled Students:
- The applicant must have a benchmark disability as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
- A valid Unique Disability ID (UDID) card verified by the DSWO in coordination with the Chief Medical Officer.
Exclusions:
- Applicants benefiting from tuition fee waivers under AICTE schemes or any other central/state government scholarships are not eligible for this scheme.
- Students receiving sustenance allowances from other schemes must choose a single source of benefit.
Application Process:
Online Application:
- Visit the official portal managed by the Jharkhand Space Applications Center.
- Register by entering your mobile number, email ID, and generating a password.
- Verify the account by clicking the activation link sent to your registered email.
- Fill out the application form and upload the required documents.
- Submit the application for verification by the District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO).
- Track your application status through the portal.
Approval and Disbursement:
- Tuition fees are transferred directly to the institution.
- Monthly sustenance allowance is transferred to the student’s bank account.
Renewal:
- Annual renewal requests should be submitted through the portal with the previous year’s marksheet.
- Applicants must be promoted to the next academic year to remain eligible.
Documents Required:
General Documents:
- Local Resident Certificate.
- Class 10th and 12th Mark Sheets.
- Diploma/Degree Certificate.
For Orphan Students:
- Valid Death Certificates of parents.
- Relationship Document between parents and children.
- Permanent Account Number (PAN) Card.
- Valid Birth Certificate.
- Aadhaar Card.
- Class 10th Certificate.
- Ration Card.
- Family Membership Certificate.
- Any other valid documents issued by the State/Central Government.
For Differently-Abled Students:
- Disability Certificate or Unique Disability ID Card.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
- Are hostel or mess fees covered under the scheme?
No, the scheme only covers tuition fees and a monthly sustenance allowance. - Can students receiving benefits from other schemes apply?
No, students receiving sustenance allowance from other schemes must choose one source of benefit. - Is this the duty of the student’s class?
If the student fails in the academic year, the student will be considered not eligible for the scheme. - Who can apply?
Differently-abled and orphaned students of Jharkhand fulfilling educational and family income standards. - Can students who are studying outside Jharkhand apply?
No, students should be studying in a recognized institution in Jharkhand or eligible institutions in India. - Who are eligible for this scheme?
The Jharkhand government has developed this scheme for orphan and differently-abled students who fulfill the educational conditions and income norms of the family. - Is there any age limit of the applicants?
Yes, any applicant aged over 40 would not be able to apply when the application is to be made. - How is the fee disbursement done?
The fee is paid directly to the institution. - What punishments are given if false information is given by the applicant?
The applicant who gives false information will be punished with a rejection of the application of membership under this scheme.