Chennai: In order to prevent differently abled school students from dropping out, Tamil Nadu government today announced an assistance scheme for them.
Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has approved financial assistance of Rs 1500 for students of Classes X and XI and Rs 2000 for plus two students of government and aided schools, on the lines of a similar scheme to prevent school drop out.
Jayalalithaa has allocated Rs 22.34 lakh for the scheme.
The sum will be invested as fixed deposit in Tamil Nadu Power Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited, and would benefit 1359 students, an official release here said.
Further, the percentage of disability in mentally challenged persons unable to take care of themselves, has been reduced from 60 to 45 per cent, so as to enable more of them avail government assistance of Rs 1000 per month.
More than 77,000 such persons were benefiting from this scheme, the release said, adding, Chief Minister has also directed to provide glowing foldable sticks to 5000 visually-disabled persons at an estimated cost of Rs 10 lakh.
PTI
