At least 1,343 students belonging to minority communities have been given interest subsidy on educational loans for overseas studies under the government's 'Padho Pardesh' scheme.
Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told the Lok Sabha that a sum of Rs 7.50 crore was released by the government benefiting 1,343 students between 2014-15 and 2015-16 (as on February 29, 2016).
Naqvi said the scheme is 100 per cent centrally-sponsored and is being implemented by the Ministry through Canara Bank.
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The bank received 364, 1,089 and 3,195 claims for interest subsidy on education loans during 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 respectively.
The scheme was operationalised in 2014-15 while claims for interest subsidy on educational loans availed April 1, 2013 onward have also been covered under it, he said.
"Students can avail an educational loan through the existing Educational Loan Scheme of any of the member banks of Indian Banks Association (IBA) and claim an interest subsidy," Naqvi said.
