Green Passage scheme to provide free of cost education for orphan students in Odisha

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha government today decided to launch Green Passage scheme for orphan students to ensure that they get free of cost higher education in the state.

A proposal in this regard of the higher education department, was approved by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here today. As per the scheme, orphan students pursuing higher education from Plus-II level to post-graduation level, will no longer have to bear the education expenses.

As many as 16,382 orphan students lodged in 272 institutions across the state, will be exempted from admission fee, tuition fees and laboratory fees for higher studies. "Even they will be provided free hostel facilities and food," said a senior official quoting provisions of the Green Passage Scheme.

Patnaik has directed all government, private, government aided colleges and universities to ensure that the orphan students are not charged in any form, an official release said.

The state government will bear all cost of the orphan students.