Enhance family income ceiling for availing scholarship by tribal students, Kerala Minister urges Centre
The Kerala government has requested that the Indian central government increase the family income ceiling for tribal student scholarships to account for inflation. Additionally, the state proposed reforms to the direct benefit transfer system to ensure more efficient fee payments to institutions.
Why it matters
Adjusting scholarship criteria is essential for maintaining educational access for marginalized communities amidst rising living costs.
The Kerala government has demanded that the Centre enhance the family income ceiling from ₹2.5 lakh to ₹4.5–5 lakh for availing post-metric scholarships by tribal students. In a memorandum submitted to Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram, Kerala Minister for Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Backwards Classes K.A. Thulasi said the change in the ceiling was necessary, given the rising living costs.
Ms. Thulasi also demanded monthly disbursement of hostel fees and PhD contingency funds based on monthly attendance, rather than a single annual disbursement. The State also suggested bifurcation of the direct benefit transfer structure so that institutional fees (tuition, examination, special fees) were credited directly to the institution’s verified bank account while the maintenance allowance went to the student, to avoid disputes over non-payment of fees. She also demanded timely release of the first instalment of the Central share at the start of the academic year.
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