Bagalakote: The newly launched State Government’s ambitious ‘Raitha Vidyanidhi’ scheme for higher education of children of farmers has received a good response in the District. During the year 2021 – 2022, Rs.11,93,33,500 was credited to 35,554 children of farmers here.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Raitha Vidyanidhi’ scheme as soon as he came to power. He had launched a ‘Vidyanidhi’ scheme in the form of scholarships to facilitate higher studies for the children of farmers affected by Covid and floods.

Children of thousands of farmers in the District have benefitted from it. It is noteworthy that many others are yet to take advantage of the scheme and the Agriculture Department needs to further increase the awareness campaign.

The ‘Raitha Vidhyanidhi’ scheme covers the farmers’ children who have completed SSLC. The students studying in any part of the State in an authorised institution will get scholarship. Rs. 2500 for PUC, ITI, Diploma students, Rs. 3500 for girls, BA, BSc, BCom and other degree students get Rs. 5,000, Rs. 5,500 for students who are pursuing LLB, students of Paramedical, B-Pharma, Nursing and other professional courses will get Rs. 7,500, girls get Rs. 8,000 where as MBBS, BE, BTech boy students get Rs. 10,000, while the girls will get Rs. 11,000. Annual scholarship too is given under the “Raitha Vidyanidhi” scheme.

Students have to submit an online application seeking scholarships. It is mandatory for any one among the parents of the student to have a Farmer’s Identification Number. The Agricultural Department is directly crediting the amount to account of farmers’ children who already have an identification number in the District and after obtaining the information of the children from the Higher Education Department.
Students studying in other parts of the State will be selected as beneficiaries of the scheme after verifying the identification number of the farmers who have applied from their own district.

Speaking to NewsKarnataka Agricultural Department Joint Director Dr. Chetana Patil said, “The “Raitha Vidyanidhi” scheme is being implemented well in the District. There has been a good response. In 2021 – 22, Rs. 11 Crore was deposited to the 35,554 children of farmers in Bagalkot district pursuing Higher Education. Students studying graduation are yet to be covered under the scheme.

The Agricultural Department has launched an awareness campaign. It has not been neglected for any reason. The children of farmers studying in higher studies should voluntarily come and apply as per the rules and get scholarships, she added.

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