In a bid to support meritorious minority students in their pursuit of higher education, the Karnataka government is considering a significant increase in the loan amount offered to them. Karnataka Housing and Minorities Welfare Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan made this announcement while unveiling the schemes for the fiscal year 2023-24, developed by the Karnataka Minorities Development Corporation (KMDC).
Currently, the KMDC provides a loan of ₹3 lakh to minority students who secure MBBS admissions under the government quota. Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan revealed that discussions were underway to raise this loan amount to ₹5 lakh. He explained that such an adjustment would prove beneficial to economically disadvantaged students, enabling them to access higher education opportunities.
Furthermore, Minister Khan hinted at the possibility of extending the increased loan amount to minority students pursuing education abroad. As of now, the KMDC offers a ₹20 lakh education loan to minority students studying in recognized foreign universities for undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. This loan amount may be raised to ₹30 lakh with the KMDC’s assistance.
Minister Khan also shared encouraging news regarding funding. He stated, “In the last three years, the state was not getting the National Minority Development Board schemes, but after holding a meeting, now we are getting the annual grant of ₹50 crore.”
Aside from the enhanced educational loan schemes, the Minister formally launched several other initiatives aimed at supporting different sections of society. These include a ₹3 lakh subsidy designed to aid unemployed individuals in purchasing four-wheelers, the Shrama Shakti program to provide skill development training, and a ₹50,000 loan scheme targeting widows, unmarried women, and divorced ladies.
The government’s proactive steps to increase financial support for minority students, both domestically and internationally, are expected to promote education and empower economically disadvantaged students to pursue their academic dreams.
