Now Reading: Odisha sets 45-day deadline, penalty for Banishree scholarship delays
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Odisha sets 45-day deadline, penalty for Banishree scholarship delays
Odisha's social security department has notified a 45-day deadline for processing Banishree scholarship applications for students with disabilities, with a penalty of Rs 500 per application per day for district officials who cause further delays. Applications left unattended at the institution level for over 45 days will automatically move to the district social security officer, who then gets another 45 days to verify and sanction them.
The revamped scheme, approved in December 2025, now covers all 21 categories of disability under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, requiring a benchmark disability of 40% or more and a valid UDID certificate. Monthly financial assistance ranges from Rs 400 for classes I-V to Rs 700 for undergraduate and higher courses, with additional allowances for visually impaired and students with locomotor disability of 75% or more.
Students can now apply through the state's Common Scholarship Application portal, and must maintain at least 75% attendance to continue receiving the scholarship.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The notification imposes a clear accountability mechanism on district officials, with a daily fine that escalates quickly for delayed applications. By moving the scheme to a common online portal and covering all 21 disability categories, the government has removed two major access barriers for students. The next step will be monitoring whether institutions and DSSOs meet the 45-day windows in practice, as the penalty alone cannot guarantee timely processing without adequate staffing.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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