As a result of this step, taken under the Right to Education Act, about 21 lakh students would be benefited in the state during current financial year, State's Education Minister Geeta Bhukkal said here today.
She said that the Education Department would also focus on increasing enrolments and arresting drop-out rates.
The Minister said that the Elementary Education Department has issued guidelines for providing free stationery, uniforms and school bags and for reimbursement of school fees of students of Classes I to VIII for the financial year 2012-13.
She said that funds for procurement of these items would be directly transferred from the Directorate to the schools concerned in the account of their School Management Committees (SMCs).
For this purpose, the authorised bank would transfer the funds to SMCs concerned, she informed.
Bhukkal said that funds for free stationery to non-scheduled caste students of Classes I to V at the rate of Rs 100 per student and of Classes VI to VIII at the rate of Rs 150 per student, as per strength given by various SMCs, would be transferred to respective accounts by the bank.
These funds would be further transferred in the bank accounts of these students duly opened by them, she added.