NEED FOR ASSISTANCE TO POOR STUDENTS TO PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION There are large numbers of students who are not in a position to pursue higher studies due to lack of resources. The Government should provide some avenues to enable them to mitigate their financial problems.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee in its 172nd Report has recommended that setting up of an Educational Development Bank of India as suggested from time to time for helping financially poor and needy students should be considered urgently. In order to provide student loan on low interest rate for pursuing higher education, it is proposed to set up Higher Educational Refinance Corporation, which may be given a fund of Rs.2, 500 crores during XI Five Year Plan.