Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal has approved the AAP government’s students higher education loan scheme. This was informed by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia who is also the Education Minister of the national Capital.
WHAT IS THE LOAN SCHEME
The L-G has approved the higher education and skill development loan guarantee scheme under which students will be provided loans upto Rs 10 lakhs by banks with the government as a guarantor.
While approving the scheme, the L-G has asked the Delhi government to incorporate all safeguards as mentioned by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in a time-bound manner
Mr Sisodia said in a tweet that the scheme has been cleared by the Lt. Governor and added that it will help thousands of students and parents.
The AAP-led Delhi government had started the scheme two years back to provide loans to students for higher education, even if they didn’t have any property or land as security.
This year, the scheme was extended to Delhi students pursuing courses outside Delhi in government recognised institutions.
PAST BEHIND THE SCHEME-APPROVAL
Last month, Mr Sisodia had accused the LG of “blocking” the scheme when the latter had asked the Arvind Kejriwal-led government to consult the Centre on it. In response to Mr Sisodia’s accusations, Governor Baijal had written to the deputy chief minister, dubbing his statement as “unfortunate”.
In a letter to Mr Sisodia, the Lieutenant Governor had suggested incorporation of some safeguards including ensuring of responsibilities of the lending institutions and linkage of loan with Aadhaar number in the education loan scheme. Thereafter, the deputy chief minister had written a letter to the governor, apprising him that the government has already incorporated many of safeguards and would further include ideas for betterment of the scheme.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had also appealed to the L-G to approve the scheme, saying it ensured best quality education to poor students.
