Source: PIB
Context:
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), in collaboration with Vertis Infrastructure Trust, has launched ‘Project Aarohan’ to promote educational opportunities for children of toll plaza employees. The initiative was inaugurated by NHAI Chairman Shri Santosh Kumar Yadav at NHAI Headquarters, New Delhi.
Objective:
- To remove financial barriers to education.
- To bridge socio-economic divides by supporting students from economically weaker sections (EWS), especially girls, first-generation learners, and students from SC, ST, OBC, and minority communities.
- To ensure equal access to quality education and prepare students for higher education, employment, and entrepreneurship.
Key Features of Project Aarohan:
- Implementing Agency: SMEC Trust’s Bharat Cares.
- Coverage (Phase 1): 500 students (Class 11 to final year of graduation).
- Scholarship Support:
- ₹12,000 annually (FY 2025–26) per selected student.
- ₹50,000 each for 50 meritorious students pursuing postgraduate or higher studies.
- Fund Allocation: ₹1 crore (July 2025 – March 2026).
- Beyond Financial Aid: Mentorship, career guidance, skill-building workshops, progress tracking, and renewal mechanisms.
- Application Process: Online portal with mandatory submission of academic records, income proof, caste certificate, and ID proof.
- Beneficiaries: Children of toll plaza employees across India’s national highway network.
