The Ministry of Labour and Employment has decided to amend the relevant provisions of the Labour Welfare Scheme (Education Component). This will allow students who are receiving scholarships from the Ministry to also receive merit-based scholarships from any central or state government agency.
The Ministry stated that this reform ensures that deserving students from families of unorganized workers are not deprived of educational opportunities due to overlapping eligibility criteria. It added that the measures are aimed at directly benefiting the children of beedi, cine, and non-coal mine workers by improving access to higher education and reducing dropout rates. With this amendment, students will now be able to pursue higher education with enhanced financial support, including access to better merit-based scholarships.