Gujarat govt to announce scheme for general category students

Gandhinagar: As a part of its damage control exercise amid the agitation of the Patel community for reservations, the BJP government in Gujarat would be announcing a special scheme for general category students who come from an economically weak background.

A senior minister in the government said on condition of anonymity that Chief Minister Anandiben Patel would make the announcement during a function here tomorrow.

"We are giving final shape to the scheme. The announcement will be made by the CM tomorrow afternoon at a function in Swarnim Sankul-2. Leaders of different communities, social and religious bodies and several MLAs would be present," he said.

Ahead of the August 25 rally of Patels, the Health Minister and government's spokesperson Nitin Patel had hinted that government was considering some soaps for general/open category students.

Under the scheme, financial assistance would be provided to all students with economically weak background who fall in non-reservation category, including those from the Patel community.

Nitin Patel had said that the state government will bear the educational expenses such as tuition and hostel fees of such students.

The government had also apprised the Patel quota agitation leader Hardik Patel about the proposal a week ago.