Bhubaneswar: Students living with HIV or belonging to HIV-affected families in Odisha will receive improved support for higher education through strengthened coordination between the Odisha State AIDS Control Society (OSACS) and the Higher Education Department.
The issue was discussed during a meeting between OSACS Project Director Dr Akshay Kumar Satpathy and Higher Education Director Kaliprasanna Mahapatra, with a focus on ensuring that eligible students can access benefits under the Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana (GSSY).
Under the GSSY, eligible students pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate courses, including non-technical, technical and professional programmes, can receive annual financial assistance of ₹20,000 to meet education-related expenses.
To ensure that more eligible students benefit from the scheme, OSACS service centres and partner organisations will step up outreach and awareness activities.
The government will also mobilise Red Ribbon Clubs across educational institutions to spread awareness about the available support and promote a discrimination-free and supportive environment for students affected by HIV.
The initiative aims to reduce financial barriers to higher education while ensuring that students affected by HIV can pursue their studies with greater dignity and equal opportunities.
-OdishaAge
