UP Govt to give ₹6,000 annual travel aid to class 9–12 students in 7 districts

The Uttar Pradesh government has introduced a travel allowance scheme for students of Classes 9 to 12 residing in select districts of Bundelkhand and Sonbhadra. Under the scheme, students who live more than 5 kilometres from the nearest government secondary school will receive ₹6,000 annually to support their travel expenses. Around 24,000 students are expected to benefit in the initial phase.

The scheme covers seven districts: Jhansi, Chitrakoot, Jalaun, Hamirpur, Mahoba, Banda, and Sonbhadra. It will be implemented from the current academic session. The financial assistance will be transferred directly to the students’ bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism. The first instalment is scheduled for disbursement on 5 September.

Students must submit a self-declaration in a prescribed proforma stating that no government secondary school is located within a 5 km radius of their residence. This declaration must be verified at the village level by the gram pradhan and the school principal. In urban areas, local municipal councilors are responsible for verification.

Girls studying in 146 government schools selected under the PM SHRI Yojana will also be eligible for the scheme. These students must also meet the residential distance criteria. The scheme aims to ensure that students from remote locations can reach school regularly without being hindered by travel-related issues.

To qualify for the annual assistance, students must show at least a 10% increase in school attendance. Vishnu Kant Pandey, Additional State Project Director of Samagra Shiksha Madhyamik, said the scheme is being implemented for the first time and is expected to benefit students who face barriers due to long distances between their homes and schools.