Gandhinagar, March 27 (NationPress) The government of Gujarat has announced the distribution of scholarships totaling Rs 354 crore to over 13.96 lakh students via the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system during a ceremony in Gandhinagar, presided over by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.

The scholarships were allotted to students under various schemes, including SSIP 2.0, Namo Lakshmi Yojana, Namo Saraswati Vigyan Sadhana Yojana, as well as Mukhyamantri Gyan Sadhana Merit Scholarship and Mukhyamantri Gyan Setu Merit Scholarship, with funds deposited directly into the students’ bank accounts.

In his speech, Patel highlighted that ongoing educational initiatives have drastically lowered the dropout rates for girls in the state.

“Previously, Gujarat had a dropout rate of approximately 34–38 percent; that figure has now plummeted to just two percent,” he stated.

He credited programs like Kanya Kelavani Mahotsav and Shala Praveshotsav, which were initiated during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tenure as Chief Minister, for enhancing enrollment and retention rates.

Patel remarked that schools throughout Gujarat are now outfitted with smart classrooms and digital labs under the 'Mission School of Excellence', which is aimed at improving access to quality education.

He expressed that there has been a notable “transformative change” in the education sector over the last 11 years under the Prime Minister's guidance.

Discussing initiatives for girls’ education, he mentioned the introduction of Namo Lakshmi and Namo Saraswati Vigyan Sadhana to alleviate financial barriers and to motivate girls to partake in science fields.

“The implementation of these programs has led to an increase of 6–7 percent in the enrollment of girls in schools,” he added.

Furthermore, Patel noted that Gujarat has been ranked first in startup initiatives for five consecutive years, providing students with platforms for innovation right from school.

During the event, a total of Rs 69.69 lakh was awarded to 735 students under the 'SSIP 2.0' program for their innovative projects.

Patel advised students to limit their use of social media during their academic years to focus more on their studies.

Education Minister Pradyuman Vaja stated that the DBT distribution is a reflection of governance transparency.

“Today, over 13 lakh students have directly received more than Rs 354 crore in their accounts, which is a transparent action by the government,” he explained.

He added that more than 1,400 students have commenced work on 735 startup ideas, and the state grants up to Rs 20,000 at the school level to support entrepreneurship.

“There has been a significant rise in girls’ enrollment over the last two years under the Namo Lakshmi and Namo Saraswati initiatives, and Rs 1,500 crore has been earmarked for these programs in the upcoming year,” he noted.

According to official data, a cumulative total of Rs 1,871.78 crore has been allocated to 27.61 lakh students under these initiatives.