Heeding to a demand by the armed forces, the government has removed the education fee cap of Rs 10,000 per month given to children of martyrs or those disabled in action. The cap was imposed by the government in July last year.
The government order saying the assistance under the scheme cannot exceed Rs 10,000 per month had triggered widespread discontent among all the three services.
In a note issued on Tuesday, the Ministry of Finance said the educational concession would continue without the cap of Rs 10,000 per month.
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It, however, said the concession would be admissible for undertaking studies in government or government-aided schools and educational institutes or those “recognised” by the central or state governments.
The concession will also be applicable to students studying in autonomous institutes financed by central or state governments.
Under the scheme, which was initially rolled out in 1972, tuition fee of children of martyrs or those disabled in action were completely waived in schools, colleges and other professional educational institutions.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had requested the finance ministry to remove the cap.
The Chiefs of Staff Committee (CoSC), comprising the Army, Navy and the Air Force chiefs, had also written to the defence ministry requesting it to remove the cap.
Approximately, 250 students were affected during the current financial year following the government’s decision to cap the assistance, according to officials.
Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha in January, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre had said that the annual saving on account of putting the cap would be Rs 3.20 crore per annum.
He had said the highest amount drawn has been reported to be Rs 18.95 lakh per annum per student.
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