Department of Higher Education, Tamil Nadu has come up with a government order (GO) for the implementation of the government decision to bear the entire cost of the education of undergraduate (UG) students of government schools, securing safe admissions in premier higher education institutions like the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
Tamil Nadu State government announced this decision while presenting the budget in March to encourage the government school students to join these premier higher education institutions. As per the government order, students who had studied in government schools from Classes VI to XII will be eligible to avail the opportunity. The GO issued to District Collectors states that the students should submit the necessary documents like nativity certificate, details of the entrance exam they appeared for admission into these premier institutes and marks secured in the test and details of the tuition fees charged by these institutions.
Annually, the Directorate of Technical Education (DoTE) will release the funds after careful verification of the facts. The initiative was introduced by the State Finance Minister, Palanivel Thiaga Rajan.
The GO further states that for proper execution of the scheme and to ensure transparency in its implementation, an online portal by DoTE shall be launched. The amount will be directly deposited into the beneficiary's bank account to avoid any error or confusion. The students have also been asked to approach the district administration along with the documents required.