Aikyashree Scholarship is a West Bengal government initiative to provide financial assistance to minority students for their education and skill development.

Overview:

The government launches scholarships to support education for financially disadvantaged students. The Aikyashree scholarship, launched by West Bengal, provides financial assistance to minority students. This article provides comprehensive information on its benefits, eligibility criteria, and application procedure. Read on to learn more.

Aikyashree Scholarship 

Aikyashree Scholarship is an online program designed to recognize and assist students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds and minority communities. Administered by the West Bengal Minorities Development and Finance Corporation, this program aims to promote talented individuals by providing crucial financial support. To address the increasing desire for education among minority communities within the state and to create more opportunities for socio-economic and educational advancement, the State Government has taken the initiative to establish the ‘Aikyashree’ – West Bengal State Scholarships for Minority Students. The program is fully funded from the State budget, starting from the financial year 2019-20 onwards. Through this endeavor, the government aims to extend vital financial support and encouragement to meritorious students belonging to minority communities in West Bengal. By providing these scholarships, the government seeks to empower deserving students and enable them to pursue their academic goals without financial constraints, fostering a brighter future for both the individuals and the communities they represent.

Funded entirely by the West Bengal State Government, the Aikyashree scholarship covers all educational expenses for deserving students. This comprehensive support encompasses not only tuition fees but also accommodation costs, enabling meritorious students to pursue their studies without financial burdens. Furthermore, the program offers free schooling and college education to eligible recipients, making it an invaluable resource for aspiring scholars.

Objective Of Aikyashree Scholarship

Scholarship Programs for Minority Students in West Bengal

1. Pre-matric Scholarship: The primary objective of the Pre-matric Scholarship is to encourage the minority communities to send their children to schools and to prevent drop-out. By providing financial support at the pre-matric level, this scholarship aims to ensure that students from minority backgrounds have the opportunity to access quality education and stay enrolled in schools throughout their academic journey.
2. Post-matric Scholarship: The Post-matric scholarship intends to encourage students to continue their pursuit of higher education. Designed to assist minority students after the matriculation level, this scholarship program seeks to facilitate their academic progress and empower them to achieve their educational aspirations, regardless of financial constraints.
3. Merit-cum-Means Scholarship for Professional and Technical Courses: The objective of Merit-cum-Means scholarship for professional and technical courses is to support the students to pursue professional/technical studies, thereby increasing their employability potential. This scholarship caters to meritorious students from minority communities who wish to excel in various professional and technical fields by providing them with financial aid to cover the costs of their specialized education.

Aikyashree Highlights

Benefits of Aikyashree Scholarship Programme 2023

The primary goal of the Aikyashree scholarship scheme is to empower deserving students to pursue their studies without facing financial obstacles. It offers a range of educational opportunities to students from minority communities, both at the school and college levels.

Through this scholarship program, numerous minority communities benefit, providing a chance for underprivileged students to excel and make a positive impact. Many meritorious students who have availed of the Aikyashree scholarship are now contributing to the progress of the state and the nation.

Aikyashree provides the following benefits to its recipients:

• Offers financial aid to students belonging to minority communities, enabling them to continue their studies.
• Each beneficiary is granted a minimum of ₹1100 per year.
• Students pursuing higher studies receive an additional amount of at least 10% on top of the base scholarship amount.
• Contributes to enhancing the literacy ratio in the state.
• Assists students in upgrading their skills and knowledge, fostering personal growth and development.

Documents Required for Aikyashree During Application Process

Before applying for the scholarship, ensure you have the following documents ready:

• A passport-sized photograph of the applicant
• Fee receipt for the current academic year
• Self-attested certificate of the previous year’s mark sheet
• Income certificate
• Self-certified community certificate
• Domicile Certificate
• Bank account details

Eligibility Criteria for Aikyashree

1. Pre-matric Scholarship Eligibility Criteria:

• The applicant must be a domicile of West Bengal.
• Must be studying in a School/Institution recognized by an educational Board/Council/University of the State/Central Government.
• Must have secured not less than 50% marks or equivalent grade in the previous final examination.
• The annual family income should not exceed Rs.2 lakh.
• Students studying in institutes outside West Bengal will not be eligible for pre-matric scholarship.

2. Post-matric Scholarship Eligibility Criteria:

• The applicant must be a domicile of West Bengal.
• Must be studying in a School/Institution recognized by an educational Board/Council/University of the State/Central Government.
• Must have secured not less than 50% marks or equivalent grade in the previous final examination.
• The annual family income should not exceed Rs.2 lakh.
• Students studying in institutes outside West Bengal will not be eligible for post-matric scholarships.

3. Merit-cum-Means Scholarship Eligibility Criteria:

• The applicant must be a domicile of West Bengal.
• Must have been admission in a technical/professional course.
• Must have secured at least 50% marks in the last Higher Secondary/Graduation examination.
• Annual family income of the student should not be more than Rs.2.5 lakh.
• Students who are residents of West Bengal but pursuing studies in listed institutions located outside West Bengal, as may be notified from time to time by the West Bengal Minorities Development and Finance Corporation, are also eligible to apply.

How to Apply for Aikyashree Scholarship in West Bengal?

To apply for the Aikyashree scholarship, follow these step-by-step instructions:

1. Visit the official website of West Bengal Minority Development and Finance Corporation.
2. The homepage of the website will appear.
3. Locate and click on the ‘New Registration’ option.
4. Aikyashree Scholarship Application Process:
   1. You will be redirected to a new page where you need to select your district.
   2. The application form will be displayed on the screen.
   3. Fill in all the required details in the application form, such as your state, district, block, name, father’s name, mother’s name, gender, religion, date of birth, mobile number, savings account number, IFS code, etc.
   4. Click on the ‘Submit and Proceed’ button after filling in the necessary information.
   5. Next, you will be prompted to upload all the required documents.
   6. Once you have uploaded the documents, click on the ‘Submit’ button.
   7. By following these steps, you will successfully apply for the Aikyashree scholarship.

How to Renew the Application for Aikyashree Scholarship in West Bengal?

To complete the SVMCM (Swami Vivekananda Merit cum Means) scholarship renewal process, follow these step-by-step instructions:

1. Visit the official website of West Bengal Minorities Development and Finance Corporation.
2. The homepage will open before you.
3. On the homepage, click on the ‘SVMCM Renewal’ option.
4. A new page will appear, where you need to select your district.
5. The renewal form will then be displayed.
6. Enter the registered Bank account number of SVMCM and the old SVMCM permanent ID.
7. Click on the ‘Submit’ button.
8. Fill in all the required information on the renewal form, including:
   • Domicile state
   • Domicile district
   • Block/municipality
   • Student’s name
   • Father’s name
   • Mother’s name
   • Gender
   • Religion
   • Date of birth
   • Mobile number
   • Savings bank account number
   • Bank IFS code
   • Captcha code
9. Click on ‘Submit and Proceed.’
10. A new page will appear where you need to provide additional required information.
11. Upload all the necessary documents.
12. Click on the ‘Submit’ button to complete the SVMCM scholarship renewal process.

Aikyashree Scholarship Status Check West Bengal?

To track your application on the official website of West Bengal Minority Development and Finance Corporation, follow these step-by-step instructions:

1. Visit the official website of West Bengal Minority Development and Finance Corporation.
2. The homepage will be displayed.
3. On the homepage, locate and click on the ‘Track Application’ option.

Track Application Process:

4. A new page will appear, prompting you to select your year of registration, district, and track by option.

5. Enter your application user ID, date of birth, and captcha code in the respective fields.

6. Click on the ‘Submit’ button.

7. Your application status will be displayed on your computer screen, providing you with the relevant updates and information regarding your application.

Selection Procedure for Aikyashree 2023

The Aikyashree scholarship is open to two categories of students:

1. Fresh candidates applying for the scholarship
2. Candidates applying for a renewal scholarship

Regarding the eligibility criteria:

• For the New Scholarship, student eligibility will be based solely on merit and subject to the budgetary allocation provided by the State Government.
• For the Renewal Scholarship, the corporation will only consider students who have obtained a minimum of 50% marks in their previous examination.

Aikyashree Scholarship Application Procedure:

To continue with the application process for the Aikyashree Scholarship, students should follow these easy steps:

• Step 1 – Student Registration:

1. 1. Visit the official website of the WBMDFC portal or directly access the Aikyashree Scholarship portal.
   2. Click on the ‘New Registration’ button.
   3. Choose the District of your Institute from the provided list.
   4. Fill in the necessary details in the registration form, including your Name, District, Guardian’s Name, Date of Birth as per educational certificates, Active Mobile Number, Valid Email ID, and Bank Account Number.
   5. Click on the ‘Submit and Proceed’ tab.

• Step 2 – Scheme Eligibility:

1. 1. Enter the required details in the scheme eligibility column on the webpage, such as the current institution, its location, class or course name, the last exam passed, name of the board, year of passing the last exam, percentage marks obtained, annual family income, and email ID.
   2. Double-check the details and click on the ‘Submit & Proceed’ tab.

• Step 3 – Registration Completion:

1. 1. After completing the above step, a temporary User ID will be generated.
   2. Check your email or inbox, as the password will be sent there.

• Step 4 – Student’s Login:

1. 1. Log in with the User ID and Password on the Student Log-In window.
   2. For added security, change the password (it is mandatory) and click on ‘Submit.’

• Step 5 – Final Submission:

1. 1. Enter the requested details under the Basic Information option.
   2. Click ‘Submit and Proceed.’
   3. Provide the details under the Academic Information option.
   4. Click ‘Submit and Proceed.’
   5. Fill in Bank Account Information and verify it.
   6. Review all the details by clicking the ‘Preview’ tab.
   7. Click on the ‘Final Submit’ tab.

• Step 6 – Verification and Print Out:

1. 1. Carefully verify all the entered details from the previous step.
   2. Once you confirm that all information is correct, take a printout copy of the application form.
   3. Submit the application form along with a photocopy of the bank passbook containing the bank account number and IFSC Code at the concerned institute.

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