Assam govt announces fee waiver for admission in HS, TDC & Masters course, if annual income less than ₹2.0 lakh

May 29: In a significant move, the Higher Education Department of Government of Assam has announced a scheme for waiver of admission fees, tuition fees etc. for students seeking admission in H.S, Degree, M.A., M.Sc & M.Com courses. The budget provision for the same was already made by State Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for the financial year 2019-20.

Some of the important criteria for availing this fee waiver scheme are:

• Annual income level is increased to ₹2.0 lakhs from ₹1.0 lakh
• Income Certificate only from Revenue Circle Officer
• Scheme available to regular students only
• In case of H.S. and B.A./B.Sc/B.Com course, those students whose fees were waived earlier will also be eligible to avail the scheme for the second year and third year admission subject to the conditions mentioned below-
• Students with arrear/back in the previous examination(s) are not eligible for the scheme in 2nd or 3rd year
• Attendance of 75% will be needed for availing the benefit in the subsequent year

However, Students seeking admission under any self-financing scheme are not eligible under this scheme. The institutes which are incorporated under this scheme are: All provincialised and government colleges in Assam, Gauhati University, Dibrugarh University, Bodoland University, Cotton University, Kumar Bhaskar Varma Sanskrit & Ancient Studies University-Nalbari and Women’s University, Jorhat. This scheme will not cover private colleges, private universities and central universities situated in Assam.

If either of the parents of the student is working in State Govt/Central Govt/Semi Govt/State or Central Govt. undertakings, such students shall not be eligible under this scheme. The students are required to produce two documents for availing this facility:

• An income certificate from the local Revenue or Circle Officer
• A declaration from the students that neither of the student is an employee of State Govt/Central Govt/Semi Govt/State or Central Govt. undertakings.

Further, the colleges were authorised to realise Magazine Fees, Games & Sports Fees and College week fees from the students during admission. All other fees will be exempted. The colleges giving free admission under this scheme shall give one endorsement at the reverse of relevant marksheet of the student so that the student does not seek free admission in multiple colleges.

The state government has made it mandatory for the students seeking fee waiver to plant a sapling during his admission either at his/her home or in the college and shall give photograph of the same to the college. A student has to nurse the sapling and while seeking admission into 2nd or 3rd year shall give photograph of the same tree that was planted during previous year.