Videshi Vidya scheme: Vizianagaram man able to repay daughter’s study loans

Amaravati: Selected as one of the beneficiaries of the Jagananna Videshi Vidya Deevena scheme, a father and daughter expressed their happiness after receiving the first installment. Bodrothu Sailaja of Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh is among the 213 students selected under the scheme.

A few days ago, Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy released the first installment of financial assistance under the scheme.

Bodrothu Srinivasa Rao, a former sarpanch from Sangam village in Vizianagaram district, sent his daughter Sailaja to the US to pursue higher studies. He had to take a huge loan to make ends meet and the repayment was his biggest cause of worry. Now, under the scheme, Srinivasa Rao’s daughter Shailaja is to receive financial aid of over Rs. 84 lakhs over the next two years. Financial aid worth Rs. 13,99,154 has been offered as the first installment and a total of Rs. 84 lakhs will be granted over the next two years.

Shailaja, currently pursuing her Masters from the University of Washington in Seattle, expressed her gratitude to the Chief Minister.

Speaking to the media in Vizianagaram, her father Srinivasa Rao said, “My daughter studied at IIT Hyderabad and went to the US. We took a loan for her education and were worried if we could ever repay it. But today, my daughter got assistance via the Jagananna Videshi Vidya Deevena scheme.”

What is Videshi Vidya Deevena?

Under the scheme, the Andhra Pradesh government will make 100% reimbursement of tuition fees to SC, ST, BC, and Minority students up to Rs. 1.25 crores and up to Rs. 1 crore to EBC students who have secured ranks in the top 100 universities. Also, 100% tuition fee reimbursement will be made up to Rs. 75 lakhs to SC, ST, BC, and Minority students and up to Rs. 50 lakhs or 50% of the tuition fee for EBC students who secured admissions in universities ranked 100 to 200 as per the QS World University rankings.

The financial assistance comes in the form of reimbursement for aspects like airfare and visa fees. Following the students’ receipt of their immigration cards (1-94), the first payment will be made. The second payment will be made following the results of the first semester, and the third following the completion of the second and third semesters. The criteria is that the candidate’s annual family income should be at most Rs. 8 lakhs.