Access to quality education holds significant importance in the overall development of the society. However, several talented students who are financially weak cannot pursue higher education due to the ever-rising costs.

The Andhra Pradesh Government introduced Jagananna Vasathi Deevena to support eligible beneficiaries financially to eradicate this situation.

The Andhra Pradesh Government launched the Jagananna Vasathi Deevena scheme in 2020. This scheme covers mess or hostel and food expenses of students belonging to the Below Poverty Line. 

The primary objective of this scheme is to increase GER or Gross Enrollment Rate and offer quality higher education. It also aims to ensure that students continue their higher education and acquire the required skills.

 Take a look at the following features of the Jagananna Vasathi Deevena scheme:

1. Financial Support to Students

Several students live away from their residential place and settle in a hostel accommodation provided by the educational institutions to pursue higher education. This requires students to spend substantial money from their pocket, making it a financial burden for economically weaker students. 

This scheme aims to support such students by offering monetary assistance to cover such expenses without any hassle. The financial aid differs with each degree to which students have enrolled themselves.

2. Payment in Instalment

The State Government will offer this financial grant through two instalments annually in July and February.

3. Beneficiaries and Allocation of Budget

Over 11,44,490 applicants are estimated to receive financial assistance through this scheme. The Government earmarked approximately ₹2,223.15 crores as of 2021.

4. Financial Grant to Mother's Bank Account

The State Government will credit the financial grant to eligible beneficiaries' mothers' bank accounts to offer educational support.

Applicants need to fulfil the following eligibility parameters to avail the benefits of this scheme:

• Applicants must be permanent residents of the state.
• Beneficiaries must belong from a Below Poverty Line family, Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Other Backward Classes, EWS, Kapu etc., to become eligible to apply for this scheme.
• This scheme is available for students enrolled in regular courses and not for students studying in distance learning courses.
• Applicants need to enrol for the following course to apply for this scheme –
  • ITI
  • Undergraduate and postgraduate degrees 
  • Polytechnic
  • B.Pharmacy and M. Pharmacy
  • B.Ed
  • MBA
  • MCA
  • B.Tech and M.Tech 
• Applicant's family's annual income must not be above ₹2.5 lakhs.
• Students must have 75% attendance in college to qualify for this scheme, and students who registered for and received hostel accommodation are eligible to apply.
• Students must take admission in the following academic institution –
  • Government or Government-backed educational institutions
  • Private colleges with affiliations of State Boards or Universities
• In the case of land ownership, the applicant's family must hold dry land below 25 acres or wetlands below 10 acres or dry or wetlands below 25 acres.
• An Individual's mother should own a bank account where the Government will transfer the amount directly.
•  Applicants should not own a four-wheeled vehicle.
• All sanitary workers can apply for Jagananna Vasathi Deevena regardless of their income levels.
• If an applicant's family member avails the benefit of pension, he or she does not qualify for this scheme.
• No family member of an applicant should be an income taxpayer.
• Applicants living in a municipal area must not own more than 1500 sq. ft built-up area.

Follow the simple procedures to apply for this Jagananna Vasathi Deevena scheme:

• Step 1: Go to the official website of this scheme, YSR Navasakam. Select the "Download" tab on the menu and choose "JVD Reimbursement Proforma." 
• Step 2: Download it and take a printout of this form.
• Step 3: Fill it in with relevant information such as family head details, student's details etc. Submit it along with supporting documents such as the Aadhaar card and BPL certificate to complete this application procedure. 

Individuals can print this application form and keep it carefully for future reference.

Submit the following documents to apply for Jagananna Vasathi Deevena scheme:

• Aadhaar card
• Documents such as admission fee receipt, college admission certificate to furnish enrolment to an educational institution
• Residential documents such as utility bills and Adhaar card
• Documents related to payments of hostel fees
• Income certificate issued by Municipal Office or Gram Panchayat depending on the location of an applicant's residential 
• EWS or BPL certificate
• Details of a bank account
• Land registration certificate 
• Declaration document for being a non-taxpayer
• Occupational certificate of applicant's parents

The benefits of this scheme include:

• Students enrolled in ITI courses will receive ₹ 10,000 per year.
• Polytechnic students will receive ₹ 15,000 per year.
• Degree students are entitled to receive ₹ 20,000 every year.
• Full academic fee reimbursement is available for students belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, regardless of courses. 

Approximately 60,253 students have dropped out from the education system of Andhra Pradesh in the academic session of 2020-2021. One of the significant causes of this unfortunate situation is the loss of income in this ongoing global health crisis. 

The Jagananna Vasathi Deevena scheme will come to the rescue. This scheme will help eligible students from economically weaker sections who have further sunk to the bottom of the economic ladder due to their parent's loss of employment opportunities in this current crisis to continue their studies by offering them substantial monetary assistance.