A New Initiative for Good Governance: Timeframe Set for Online Scholarship and Fellowship Payments Under the initiative of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, students belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Minorities, and Economically Weaker Sections, studying in educational institutions, ashram hostels, and technical and professional courses across the state, are now receiving their scholarship and fellowship payments directly into their bank accounts through an online system. Today, at a program held at the Mahanadi Bhawan (Secretariat), Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai transferred ₹84.66 crore in scholarships and fellowships online to the bank accounts of 1.98 lakh students from these categories. Regular, Timely Payments Under the New System Principal Secretary Shri Sonmoni Bora informed that under the new system for pre-matric, post-matric scholarships, and fellowship payments, students will receive their payments four times a year — in the months of June, September, October, and December.This initiative will help students overcome financial difficulties during their studies. Previously, scholarship and fellowship amounts were disbursed only once a year, usually in December or February–March. The new arrangement ensures timely, consistent, and transparent financial support to students. Transparency and Accountability in Governance Principal Secretary Shri Bora highlighted that under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Sai, these continuous efforts towards good governance have made the government and administration more accountable and transparent than ever before. He further informed that today, ₹79.27 crore was transferred as the second installment of fellowship to 1,86,050 students of ashram hostels, and ₹5.38 crore was transferred as post-matric scholarships to 12,142 students directly into their bank accounts. Background of the Initiative Shri Bora recalled that the online payment system for scholarships and fellowships was first launched by Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai on 10 June 2025.Before the start of the academic session, the first installment of ₹77 crore was released for all pre-matric hostels and ashrams, and ₹8.93 crore was released as the first installment of meal assistance for students studying in post-matric hostels — a total of ₹85 crore, marking an innovative beginning. In the second phase, on 17 June 2025, an amount of ₹6.2 crore was transferred online to 8,370 students as scholarship payments. Dignitaries Present The program was attended by: Shri Ramvichar Netam, Minister for Tribal Development Shri Kedar Kashyap, Minister for Forests and Climate Change Shri Shyam Bihari Jaiswal, Minister for Health Shri O.P. Choudhary, Minister for Finance Shri Tankaram Verma, Minister for Revenue Shri Gajendra Yadav, Minister for School Education Shri Guru Khushwant Saheb, Minister for Scheduled Caste Development Shri Rajesh Agrawal, Minister for Tourism Shri Subodh Singh, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Dr. Saransh Mittar, Commissioner, Department of Tribal, Scheduled Caste, Backward Class, and Minority Development Post navigation Cabinet Decisions: Dated – 10 October 2025 Coldrif syrup owner Ranganathan sent on 10-day remand:Accused claims in court, ‘I’m unaware of charges’; SIT to probe incident
