Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Swadhar Yojana Expanded To Taluka-Level To Benefit More Students
Pune, 2nd January 2025: The State Government has expanded the Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Swadhar Yojana to ensure students from Scheduled Castes and Neo-Buddhist communities can access food, accommodation, and other educational facilities. The scheme, which provides financial assistance directly into students’ Aadhaar-linked bank accounts, is now being implemented at the taluka level to support more students pursuing higher education.
The scheme benefits students in classes 11 and 12 and those who have completed their 12th standard and are enrolled in vocational or non-vocational courses but are unable to secure admission to government hostels for backward classes.
Currently, 443 government hostels operate across the state under the Social Justice and Special Assistance Department. These hostels, which include 230 for boys and 213 for girls, accommodate a total of 43,858 students—23,208 boys and 20,650 girls. Despite these efforts, many students remain without access to government hostels due to limited capacity.
As the number of colleges and students continues to rise, the demand for hostel space has exceeded availability, leaving many students struggling to pursue their education. The Swadhar Yojana was launched as a solution to address these challenges and remove barriers to higher education for underprivileged students.
By extending the scheme to taluka levels, the government aims to reach more students, ensuring they receive the necessary support to continue their educational journey without disruption.
