Over 38,000 Meritorious Students Benefited from Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Federation’s Scholarship Scheme

Raipur, June 18

The scholarship scheme run by the Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce (Trade & Development) Federation is playing a vital role in promoting education in forest-dwelling areas. Launched in 2013–14, the scheme provides financial assistance for higher education to meritorious students of Class 10 and 12 from tendu leaf collector families.

Initially, it was estimated that around 100 boys and 100 girls would benefit from this scheme each year. However, over the years, the scheme has grown significantly in both reach and impact. Since 2019–20, a total of 38,114 students have received scholarships amounting to ₹41.79 crore, disbursed directly through online mode.

The scholarship scheme includes four main components:

General merit scholarships for students,

Educational incentive scholarships for exceptionally talented students,

Scholarships for vocational courses, and

Scholarships for non-vocational undergraduate courses.

Under these categories, students receive financial assistance ranging from ₹2,500 to ₹25,000, helping them continue their studies without economic hurdles.

Forest Minister Mr. Kedar Kashyap stated that this scheme, operated by the Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Federation, not only helps students from economically backward forest regions to access education but also empowers their futures. He emphasized that the initiative is a significant step toward realizing the vision of an educated and empowered Chhattisgarh. He also mentioned that the scheme would continue to expand in the coming years to ensure that every eligible and talented student can benefit from it.