Govt Spent ₹607 Crore on Ambedkar Overseas Scholarships, Says Minister

Hyderabad: Nearly 2,000 students have benefited from the Ambedkar Overseas Scholarship Scheme since 2023, Minister Adluri Laxman said on Tuesday.

Replying to former minister and BRS MLA K. Taraka Rama Rao and CPI MLA K. Sambasiva Rao during the Q&A session, he stated that a total of ₹607 crore has been spent on the scheme so far.

The minister said the government pays fees for students pursuing higher education abroad in accordance with the regulations of the programme.

Earlier, K. Taraka Rama Rao (KTR) had stated that the government had promised to provide overseas education scholarships in October 2025 but failed to deliver. He said many students are still waiting for scholarships, struggling to pay their fees and facing difficulties in continuing their education. He called on the government to implement the plan on a priority basis.

Meanwhile, Sambasiva Rao stated that the scheme currently benefits SC students only and suggested that it should be implemented with 100 per cent allocation under SC and ST sub-plans to ensure wider coverage.

He also reminded the government of its promise to establish separate companies for the Mala and Madiga communities, noting that neither the companies have been created nor the guidelines issued so far.