Agartala, August 11, 2025: A State-Level Awareness-cum-Review Meeting on welfare schemes for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) was held at Pragna Bhavan in Agartala city on Monday, bringing together Minister for Social Welfare & Social Education Santana Chakma, OBC Corporation Chairman Tapas Majumdar, Department Secretary Tapas Roy, Director Nirmal Adhikari and senior officials.
Minister Chakma stressed the meeting’s objective of ensuring that OBC welfare schemes reach the grassroots, while also reviewing progress, framing strategies, and increasing awareness. “We are committed to the social justice, empowerment, and educational upliftment of our OBC brothers and sisters,” she said.
Presenting key statistics, Chakma informed that in 2023–24, ₹325.995 lakh was disbursed to 21,733 students, while ₹4,221.66 lakh benefitted 20,594 students. For 2024–25, 24,003 applications have been received via NSP 2.0, and ₹554.12 lakh has already supported 11,312 students, with ₹3,786.64 lakh required for the remaining 9,774.
Other schemes reported include: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Memorial Gold Medal Award: ₹4.25 lakh to 17 meritorious students (2024–25); Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Merit Award: ₹29.955 lakh to 1,997 students (2024–25); and Health Assistance: ₹1.28 lakh for 20 patients (2024–25) and ₹0.48 lakh for four patients (2025–26).
Chakma also announced the construction of a 200-seater hostel at Women’s Polytechnic, Hapania, with ₹173.25 lakh allocated, and outlined new initiatives such as one-time financial aid of ₹50,000 per year for OBC students in professional courses.
Upcoming schemes include the Mukhya Mantri Akanksha Scheme (₹1.20 lakh coaching support for Civil Services aspirants) and the Mukhya Mantri Teerth Yatra Scheme (pilgrimage package for OBC beneficiaries), both awaiting cabinet approval.
The minister also revealed that NBCFDC loans at 3% and TOBCCDCL loans at 6% have been revised upwards, while ₹277.36 crore has been recovered over five years through 66 awareness camps.
Concluding, Chakma reaffirmed the department’s resolve to drive OBC empowerment through “targeted schemes, transparent governance, and collaboration across administrative levels.”
