Kerala allocates 303.80 crore rupees for scholarships and welfare schemes

Thiruvananthapuram: The LDF government has sanctioned a total of 303.80 crore rupees towards scholarships for students from Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and fishermen communities, along with additional allocations for welfare schemes across various departments.

Under the Scheduled Caste category, Post-Matric Scholarships and Post- Matric Additional Assistance will receive 18.20 crore rupees and 220.25 crore rupees respectively. Financial support has also been announced for Pre- Matric Scholarships targeting students in classes 9 and 10, and the children of those employed in unhygienic conditions.

Students from the Scheduled Tribe category will receive 40.35 crore rupees under the Post -Matric Scholarship scheme, while 25 crore rupees has been earmarked for scholarships for children of fishermen.

In addition to these allocations, the government has approved 498.36 crore rupees as supplementary funds to clear arrears under existing welfare programmes run by various departments. Further allocations include:

• 207.40 crore rupees for the Thanal project supporting fishermen families

• 44 crore rupees for the supplementary income scheme for Khadi workers

• 58 crore rupees as rebate for Khadi institutions and projects under the Khadi Board

• 2.26 crore rupees for festival bonuses and production incentives to Khadi workers

• 50 crore rupees for wages and rebates to handloom workers involved in uniform supply

• 64 crore rupees for financial assistance to Scheduled Caste inter-caste married couples

• 1.17 crore rupees for Scheduled Tribe inter-caste married couples

• 11.85 crore rupees as general assistance for inter-caste marriages

• 16 crore rupees for victims of wild animal attacks

• 0.82 crore rupees for Acharyas and Koladharis under the Malabar Devaswom Board

• 42.86 crore rupees as pumping subsidy