Labour and Employment Ministry has decided to amend the relevant provision guidelines of the Labour Welfare Scheme (Education Component). This will allow students who are availing the Ministry’s welfare-based scholarship to also receive a merit-based scholarship from any Central or State Government agency.

The Ministry said that this reform ensures deserving students from unorganised worker families are not deprived of educational opportunities due to overlapping eligibility conditions. It added that the measures are aimed at directly benefiting the wards of Beedi, Cine, and Non-Coal Mine workers by improving access to higher education and reducing dropout rates. With this amendment, the students will now be able to pursue higher education with enhanced financial support, including access to better merit-based scholarships.