The Congress party’s election promise of ‘Vidya Bharosa’ could be a major shock to the ruling BRS and BJP. Vidya Bharosa is a unique scheme that offers a Rs 5 lakh card for students to cover all their educational expenses. This scheme could have a significant impact on young voters during the Assembly elections and the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024.
If we look at the numbers, the scheme could potentially benefit around 60 lakh BPL families in Telangana. It would also cover approximately six lakh intermediate level students, 13 lakh students pursuing three-year degree courses, and 2-3 lakh students studying engineering and medical courses.
The main advantage of this scheme is that it provides an integrated solution for students to meet their educational expenses. Educational institutions no longer need to wait for fee reimbursement from the government, and students no longer have to wait for scholarships. The Rs 5 lakh card provides financial assistance equivalent to the starting monthly salary of software engineers, which is around Rs 40,000.
This scheme directly challenges the ruling BRS’s claim of providing residential education with an expenditure of about Rs 1.5 lakh per student. It gives students the freedom to choose any college or institution, whether it is private or public. The estimated annual cost of implementing this scheme is around Rs 10,000-15,000 crore for the government. It aims to cover approximately 21-22 lakh students from the 10+2 level onwards.
In conclusion, the Vidya Bharosa scheme proposed by the Congress party could have a significant impact on the upcoming elections. It offers a unique solution to cover all educational expenses for students and challenges the ruling party’s claims in this area.
