Assam govt issues scheme for waiver of fees for students seeking admission in HS, TDC & PG

Sept. 6: Assam Government provided total free admission to all students of HS, TDC and PG during the academic year 2020-21. However, this year, there was a confusion among the authorities of the educational institutes in the state as regards fee waiver. Ending all speculations, Government of Assam, Higher Education Department issued an order to this effect on 6 September, 2021 whereby the “Scheme for fee waiver of admission fees, tuition fees etc. for students taking admission in HS/ Degree and MA, M.Sc/M.Com course” was announced.

The notification by Government of Assam stated that in continuation of FEE WAIVER scheme under Pragyan Bharti for free admission in H.S. / Degree and M.A./ M.Sc./M. Com Course under Higher Education Department, the scheme will continue for the year 2021-22 for those whose parental income is below Rs. 2 lakh.

1. Aim: The aim of the scheme in access to the poor students of the State and to help them achieve the benefits of Higher Education.

2. Scope and Applicability: The Schemes will be applicable to the students seeking admission into 1″ year of H.S./B.A./B.Sc./ B.Com and M.A./M.Sc/M.Com course. Students taking admission in any self-financing course are not eligible under this scheme. 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 . For M.A./M.Sc./ M.Com, the benefit of the scheme is applicable for Final year for those whose fees were waived earlier.

3. Institutes incorporated under the scheme: i. All Provincialised and Govt. Colleges. ii. Gauhati University, Guwahati. / Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh. / Bodoland University, Kokrajhar. / Cotton University, Guwahati. / Kumar Bhaskar Varma Sanskrit & Ancient studies University, Nalbari. / Women’s University, Jorhat. / Bhattadev University, Bajali. / Rabindranath Tagore University, Hojai / Madhabdev University, Lakhimpur. / Majuli University of Culture, Majuli. / Sati Sadhini Raijyik Viswavidyalaya. This scheme will not cover Private Colleges, Private Universities and Central Universities situated in Assam. The Scheme will be applicable to students pursuing higher education in colleges and Universities of Assam in the categories stated above.

4. Applicability: Category of students eligible under the scheme:

i. Students whose parental annual income is less than Rs. 2.00 lakh from all sources will be eligible to avail this scheme.

ii. If either of the parent (mother or father) of the student is working in the State Govt./ Central Govt./Semi Govt./ State or Central Govt. undertakings, such students shall not be eligible under this scheme.

iii. Scheme is only for regular students having minimum 75% of attendance in classes with no back paper in previous examination.

5. Proof of Income/ Documents required: An Income Certificate from the Local Revenue Circle Officer only. A declaration from the students that neither of the parents (father or mother) of the students is an employee of State Central Govt. Department or its undertaking. Such form shall be devised by the concerned Registers/  Principal. If such a declaration is found to be false, the admission shall be cancelled and fee shall be realized from such students.

6. Power of Admission Committees: The Admission Committees of the concerned Colleges and Universities shall have the power to enquire into the income of the family in case of doubt in regard to students and if the committee is of the view that the income of the parents exceed Rs. 2.00 Iakh, the committee may recommended cancellation of admission notwithstanding documents submitted by the student. Such enquiry may commence suo moto by the institute or on a complaint received against any student availing benefit under this scheme. The Category of Institutes coming under the purview of the Scheme, shall constitute such committees comprising of Senior Teachers. The Principal/ Registrar of the institution shall observe due diligence and will not allow any undeserving candidates. The Director of higher Education will make random check of income certificate and disciplinary action may be taken against the student/ official or principal.

8. Duties and Responsibilities of Students availing the Scheme: Students seeking admission into 1st year will plant a sapling at his/her College or at his /her home and shall give photograph of the same to the college,. The student has to nurse the sapling and while seeking admission into second year shall give photograph or the same tree that was planted during previous year. A Scrutiny Committee shall be constituted comprising teachers which will examine the photographs and will assess the genuineness of the Photographs and growth of the plant. Only on receipt of recommendation from the Committee, the student can avail subsequent year fee waive. This will be effective from the session 2021 (applicable to those who benefited under the scheme during 2019-20 and 2020-21 session). Students availing the fee waiver benefit during the Current Year shall submit photograph of the sapling planted by them earlier to the College authority and the college authority shall scrutinize the authenticity of the same and allow the candidate accordingly.

9. Responsibility of College and Universities: All Colleges and University will be required to upload the names of students admitted availing, fee waiver benefit, in the respective website.

10. Marking at the reverse of Mark sheet of candidate given free admission:

➢ The Colleges giving free admission under this scheme will give one endorsement at the reverse of relevant mark sheet of the student so that the student does not seek free admission in multiple Colleges.

➢The Colleges and Universities will devise Rubber seal and use the seal at the reverse of mark sheets of the beneficiary students.

The Colleges and Universities will send the requirement for reimbursement of fund in prescribed pro forma together with name of students availing the benefit under the scheme within 45 days of admissions so that the Director can move Govt. for release of fund to institutes.