The scope of the Chief Minister Farmer Scholarship Scheme has been expanded with the aim of encouraging meritorious children of farmers and agricultural laborers for higher agricultural education in Uttar Pradesh. Along with doubling the number of scholarship seats under the scheme, the state government has also increased the monthly assistance amount from Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000. After this, eligible students will now get a scholarship of Rs 60 thousand instead of Rs 36 thousand annually.
Under this scheme of the State Agricultural Produce Market Council, now 90 students instead of 45 in every agricultural university and agricultural institute and 30 students instead of 15 in every agricultural college will be given scholarship on the basis of merit. The increase in the number of seats is expected to help more meritorious students from economically weaker farmer families to pursue agricultural education.
According to Mandi Parishad, the benefit of this scheme is being given to eligible students studying in 11 agricultural universities and agricultural institutes and 61 agricultural colleges of the state. After doubling the number of seats, the total stipulated number of scholarships has increased from 1,410 to 2,820.
Under the scheme, the monthly amount of scholarship has been increased from Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000. In this way, each selected student will now get Rs 60 thousand annually, which was earlier Rs 36 thousand. That means students will get additional financial assistance of Rs 24 thousand in a year.
The increased amount of scholarship will help the students to meet the expenses related to studies. Along with this, the scheme will also be useful for the youth pursuing higher education in fields like agriculture, horticulture, forestry and animal husbandry.
According to Mandi Parishad, a total of 6,454 students have been given scholarships worth about Rs 22.90 crore under the Chief Minister Farmer Scholarship Scheme from the financial year 2017-18 to 2025-26. Now, after the increase in the number of seats and assistance amount, more students will get the opportunity to join the scheme.
Under the revised system, scholarship seats for Agriculture Bachelor's course in agricultural universities and institutes have been increased from 25 to 50 and for Home Science Bachelor's from six to 12. The seats for Post Graduate Agriculture have been increased from 10 to 20 and for Post Graduate Home Science from four to eight.
At the same time, scholarship seats in agricultural colleges have been increased from 10 to 20 at the undergraduate level and from five to 10 at the postgraduate level. Apart from agriculture, eligible students studying in horticulture, forestry, animal husbandry and related subjects are also included in the scope of the scheme.
The benefit of the scheme is given to the sons and daughters of farmers and agricultural laborers resident of Uttar Pradesh and the students who are completely dependent on them. For graduation course, it is necessary to secure minimum 70 percent marks in Intermediate from UP Board and 85 percent marks in other boards. For postgraduate courses, at least 70 percent marks have been prescribed at the graduation level. Eligible students are selected on the basis of merit.
Mandi Parishad Director Jitendra Pratap Singh said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, efforts are being made to provide better opportunities for higher agricultural education to the bright children of farmers and agricultural labourers.
The increase in scholarship seats and funds will help talented students from economically weaker farmer families to pursue their studies. He said that the expansion of the scheme will encourage agricultural education and strengthen the possibilities of creating a new generation of agricultural scientists, experts and agriculture-based entrepreneurs in the future.
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