The scheme “Award of Opportunity Cost to Parents of Scheduled Caste Girl Students” was implemented by the Adi Dravidar Welfare Department, Government of Puducherry for providing the financial assistance to the Scheduled Caste parents for sending school their daughters who otherwise earn livelihood for the family engaging themselves in menial labour.

The objective of the scheme is to eliminate the Scheduled Caste girl child labour and encourage Scheduled Castes parents to send their girl children to educational institutions by paying opportunity cost in lieu of the income shortage suffered by them.

"Opportunity cost" means the amount payable to the parents of Scheduled Caste of students to compensate them for the loss of income suffered by them on account of sending their girl children to schools, who are compelled by the Socio-economic system to work and earn for their families’ subsistence income.

Adi Dravidar Welfare Department, Union Territory of Puducherry

The girl students studying in Class VI Standard to XII Standard of a Government or Government recognized educational institution in the Union Territory of Puducherry are eligible to apply under the scheme.

Yes, the girl student and her parent/guardian should be a native of the Union Territory of Puducherry either by virtue of birth or by continuous residence for a period of not less than 3 years.

The annual income of the parents shall not be more than ₹24,000/-.

Under this scheme, ₹3,000/- per academic year is payable to the Scheduled Caste parent for each daughter studying in classes VI to XII standard.

Yes, the opportunity cost is payable to the parents of the Scheduled Caste girl in addition to the Pre-Matric Scholarship payable to the children.

Yes, the scheme is only for girl students.

Online submission of the application form can be done through the website of the National Scholarship Portal. https://scholarships.gov.in/