More than one lakh students have so far received financial assistance under the Student Credit Card Scheme, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced today.
In her X handle she wrote: “Happy to share that under our Student Credit Card Scheme, the number of sanctioned cases has crossed today the landmark figure of 1,00,000. In the flagship scheme of our government, the students are provided an education loan up to Rs 10 lakh at a very nominal interest rate. The interest subvention/ subsidy amount is entirely borne by the state government.”
She said the scheme would continue to support young talents as they work towards their goals.
“Wish all our students a very prosperous future”, the Chief Minister added.
The scheme was introduced on 30 June, 2021, soon after Mamata Banerjee took office as Chief Minister for the third time following the Assembly elections that year.
After coming to power in 2011, Miss Banerjee had taken a slew of schemes to benefit the students. Under the Student Credit Card scheme the students can take loans up to Rs 10 lakh to pursue higher education. Many students have taken the loan to pursue engineering and medical courses. The students will repay the loan once they get jobs. Miss Banerjee had introduced the scheme so that meritorious students from economically challenged families can carry on with higher studies without putting pressure on their parents. It had also been one of her main campaign promises.
Kanyashree scheme has given financial assistance to the girl students of state-run and aided schools up to the postgraduate level. The scheme has received global recognition. Swami Vivekananda Scholarship has also supported students to pursue higher studies.
Sabuj Sathi scheme gives bicycles to the students studying between Classes IX to XII of state-run and aided schools and madrasas. The scheme has received global recognition and successfully brought down school drop outs and early marriages of girls in the rural and semi-urban areas.