Bridging the Gap: Enhancing Educational Access through Pre-Matric Scholarships in Nabarangpur

Bridging the Gap: Enhancing Educational Access through Pre-Matric Scholarships in Nabarangpur

Project Details

Category: Education
Project Title: Breaking Cost Barriers by Scaling Pre-Matric Scholarship
Department or District: District Welfare Office, Nabarangpur
State: Odisha
Start Date of the Project: Academic Year 2022–23
Website: https://rtiodisha.gov.in/

Tribe(s) that the Project Covers: Bhotra, Paroja, Kandha, Halva, Bhunjia, Kandha Gauda, Kulis and Mirdha

Keywords: Tribal Scholarship, Tribal Education, Dropout Prevention, Convergence Model

The Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme in Nabarangpur is a flagship initiative aimed at bridging the educational divide by extending financial assistance to marginalized student groups. In one of the most backward districts of Odisha, the program was designed to address systemic dropouts by providing direct financial support to ST, SC, OBC students in Classes 9 and 10. Through a convergence-based model, this initiative not only increased scholarship coverage but also strengthened institutional mechanisms to reduce the burden of educational expenses on tribal and disadvantaged families.

The Project

This project was initiated by the District Welfare Office of Nabarangpur with the objective of expanding access to the centrally-sponsored Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme. It included a district-wide campaign to ensure that all eligible students were able to apply and receive benefits directly in their Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts. The project brought together government departments, NGOs, school authorities, and community actors to streamline processes, facilitate documentation, and support families in overcoming digital and institutional hurdles. A special Scholarship Cell and night-time data entry interventions were created to support high-volume, time-sensitive tasks during application periods.

Problems that it Intends to Solve

The project aimed to eliminate key barriers that hindered eligible students from accessing scholarships. These included lack of awareness about the scheme, incomplete or incorrect documents, discrepancies between Aadhaar and school data, absence of bank accounts, and limited digital access in remote areas. Additionally, the lack of trained school staff and overwhelming workload on institutional nodal officers delayed application verification and approvals. All of these factors contributed to low application rates and high dropout rates among poor and tribal children.

What was the Need

In Nabarangpur, financial constraints have historically been a major factor leading to school dropouts, particularly among Scheduled Tribes. Despite being eligible for scholarships, thousands of students remained outside the net due to logistical and procedural bottlenecks. It was therefore essential to create a responsive, district-level mechanism to ensure these students did not fall through the cracks. The need for an inclusive, accessible, and well-supported scholarship system was critical to achieving educational equity and reducing dropout rates.

What Hindered its Introduction

Challenges emerged at various levels. Parents in remote villages lacked information or digital literacy to assist their children in the application process. Many students had incorrect or missing Aadhaar details or bank accounts that were not seeded properly. Headmasters and school nodal officers were often not trained in the scholarship portal’s technicalities, and verification work added to their routine academic duties. Server overloads during peak periods further stalled the process. These issues made the implementation of a scalable model difficult without systemic reforms.

Process Followed for Implementation

The District Welfare Office led the implementation and coordination efforts, collaborating with the District Education Office and banks. A dedicated Scholarship Cell was formed to track progress, while headmasters and nodal officers were trained through formal sessions. Bank and India Post Payment Bank (IPPB) representatives facilitated Aadhaar seeding and account opening in schools. The district administration also arranged for late-night sessions to avoid server downtime.
The Piramal Foundation played a vital support role in training, monitoring, and community engagement. It helped in capacity-building of school and block-level functionaries, distributed IEC materials, and created awareness among students and families. It also assisted the administration in data reconciliation and tracking pending applications.
Local leaders, PRIs, Self-Help Groups, and Anganwadi Workers were involved in grassroots mobilization. They helped students obtain necessary documents and encouraged parents to prioritize school attendance. Teachers guided students through the documentation process and ensured all required details were collected and uploaded in time.

Solutions Implemented

Multiple interventions were introduced to address existing barriers. Aadhaar enrollment camps were organized on school premises. IPPB and other banks supported onsite account opening and Aadhaar seeding. Training was provided to all INOs and HMs to expedite verification. IEC materials were created to spread awareness, and PRIs were engaged to mobilize eligible students. Night-time portal access was utilized to complete entries during low-traffic periods.

Details of the Coverage

In 2022-23, 12,947 students received scholarships under the scheme. By 2023-24, the figure had risen to 20,378, a 57.34% increase. The coverage spanned all blocks of the Nabarangpur district, particularly targeting ST and SC students in Class 9 and 10.

Innovation and Unique Features

A key innovation was the introduction of late-night processing windows to reduce server overload. Direct Aadhaar seeding and account opening at school level ensured higher efficiency. The convergence model bringing together government departments, community actors, and NGO partners, enabled a holistic, bottom-up implementation that went beyond conventional administrative processes.

New Approaches: Tech integration, capacity building, culturally sensitive methods
- The project leveraged centralized online portals, Aadhaar-enabled verifications, and digital dashboards for real-time tracking. Capacity building workshops empowered HMs, INOs, and block officials. Community outreach incorporated local language messaging and face-to-face sessions to ensure cultural resonance and inclusivity.
Co-creation: How tribal knowledge or leadership shaped the solution
- Tribal elders and community leaders helped gain the trust of families and encouraged participation, particularly among girls. Their involvement in local mobilization ensured community buy-in and allowed a culturally grounded roll-out. Though not directly contributing technical knowledge, their leadership was key in shaping outcomes.
Any adaptations: How the project evolved during implementation
- Originally designed as a routine scholarship distribution program, the project evolved into a high-impact, convergence-driven campaign. Based on challenges encountered in 2022–23, strategies such as document camps, banking outreach, and night shifts were incorporated in the 2023–24 cycle.

Challenges Faced Before Implementation

The lack of trained school staff, absence of a monitoring cell, and limited departmental coordination led to inefficiencies. School authorities found it difficult to cope with verification workloads alongside academic duties.
Inaccessibility of banking services, poor awareness among parents, and delays in Aadhaar updates created bottlenecks. Girls were especially affected due to social norms and lack of awareness among families.
Regular training, establishment of a Scholarship Cell, onsite Aadhaar and banking services, and targeted outreach in vulnerable communities helped resolve most initial challenges.

Challenges Faced During Implementation

Portal crashes, data mismatches, and difficulty in tracking pending applications hindered smooth execution. Administrative fatigue during peak load periods was also a challenge.
In remote areas, power cuts and lack of internet affected application submission. Some parents hesitated to share documents or Aadhaar details due to misconceptions or privacy concerns.
Night-time work shifts, grievance redressal at cluster level, and hands-on data correction workshops ensured continuity and transparency. Schools were equipped with better connectivity tools in later phases.

Outcomes

Increased application coverage by 57.34% in a single year. More than 20,000 eligible students benefited from direct transfers to their bank accounts.
Dropouts reduced significantly, especially among girl students. Families developed trust in the education system. Teachers observed improved attendance and academic performance in schools.
The District Welfare Office conducted block-wise reviews. A virtual dashboard and a Scholarship Cell enabled real-time tracking and resolution of pending applications. Feedback loops were established through NGO partners.

Beneficiaries

Direct beneficiaries include 20,378 students from ST, SC, OBC, and EBC communities in Class 9 and 10. Indirect beneficiaries include their families, local schools, and communities that experienced reduced economic burden.

Replicability / Scalability / Sustainability

The program is highly replicable in districts with similar demographics. Its scalability was demonstrated through a 57% increase in one year. The convergence approach ensures long-term sustainability under existing government frameworks.
The project supports national goals under NEP 2020, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, and schemes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. It aligns with state objectives for reducing dropouts and improving educational parity among vulnerable groups.
The project is fully funded through state and centrally-sponsored schemes. Efficient processes have ensured optimal use of funds. Banking and Aadhaar seeding ensure transparency and direct benefit transfer (DBT) sustainability.
Districts with high ST and SC populations can replicate the model using similar convergence and support structures. The success in Nabarangpur makes a strong case for state-wide adoption.