New Delhi : Good news for all Delhi students! Now they can study outside the national capital with loans provided by the government. Meritorious students, who wish to study in a government institute, will get education loans of up to Rs 10 lakh from banks with the Delhi government as their guarantor. Lt Governor Anil Baijal has approved the loan guarantee scheme under higher education and skill development programme, according to PTI.
The LG, while approving the scheme, has asked the Delhi government to ensure all safeguards so that the scheme remains sustainable and is in the best interest of the students. Education minister Manish Sisodia thanked Lt Governor Anil Baijal on Twitter. He wrote: “I am grateful to Hon @LtGovDelhi for clearing Delhi govt’s Higher Edu Loan scheme. It will help thousands of students and their parents.”
Atishi Marlena, advisor to the education minister, said Rs 10 lakh will be given to those students who want to pursue higher studies. The loan will be given without any collateral or third party guarantee, with the government as their guarantor, he added. Marlena said, students will be eligible irrespective of the income status of their parents. The loan EMIs will start one year after they complete their course, the report said.
An official said that due diligence will be kept to “ensure that loans are not extended to study at dubious institutions or dubious courses that will not ensure employability,” according to Hindustan Times. However, Atishi Marlena, advisor to the education minister said that the question of dubious institutions does not arise in the first place as students can only take loans to study in government institutes.
Last month, Sisodia, who also holds the education portfolio, had accused the Lt Governor of “blocking” the education loan scheme when the latter had asked the Delhi government to consult the Centre on it. In response to Sisodia’s accusations, Baijal had written to the deputy chief minister, dubbing his statement as “unfortunate,” as per PTI report.
Note: News shared for public awareness with reference from the information provided at online news portals.
