Raipur, August 8, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A Rs 1.29 lakh scholarship from the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has helped 19-year-old Annu Supriya, an OBC student from Chhattisgarh, pursue her dream of studying engineering at the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Raipur.
Annu, who belongs to the Teli community, comes from a financially disadvantaged family. Her mother is a single parent who works as a daily wage labourer. The family faced financial difficulties in supporting Annu’s higher education, particularly her preparation for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE).
Under the Ministry’s Top-Class Education Scheme, Annu received financial assistance of Rs 1,29,100, which significantly eased the financial pressure on her family and enabled her to begin her B.Tech course at NIT Raipur, according to the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment.
“The Top-Class Education Scheme has played a significant role in my educational journey. The scholarship support has reduced the financial stress on my family and enabled me to continue my education at a premier institution,” Annu said.
She added that the assistance had strengthened her determination to work towards her career goals and build a better future.
Annu’s family had no prior experience or awareness of engineering entrance examinations, and she came to know about the JEE and its preparation process relatively late. Financial constraints also prevented her from joining an offline coaching institute for JEE preparation.
Despite these challenges, she remained committed to pursuing engineering and eventually secured admission to NIT Raipur.
A Ministry official said Annu’s journey demonstrated how targeted educational assistance could help students from financially vulnerable families gain access to premier institutions.
The official said the Top-Class Education Scheme seeks to reduce financial barriers and enable deserving students to pursue higher education, develop their skills and work towards better career opportunities.
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