Over 5.6 Lakh Students in Araria to Get DBT Benefits, 75% Attendance Mandatory
More than 5.6 lakh students in Araria district could benefit from DBT schemes covering scholarships, uniforms and bicycles, but the mandatory 75% attendance rule remains crucial as the education department follows up on pending school reports.
Under these schemes, the eligible amount will be transferred directly to students’ bank accounts. The education department had asked all schools to submit reports on students’ attendance to determine eligibility for the benefits.
According to the department, most schools have submitted their reports, but reports from a few schools and madrasas are still pending.
The District Programme Officer (DPO), Planning and Accounts, said on Saturday that reports had been received from approximately 99% of schools in the district. Reports from 10 schools are pending approval at the Block Education Officer (BEO) level, and these are expected to be processed soon. The department has not yet received reports from five madrasas.
The latest update follows a report issued by the department on October 15, which showed that 153 schools had yet to submit their attendance-related information.
According to the October 15 report, Araria district had a total of 2,189 schools, of which 2,036 had submitted reports on whether students had achieved the required 75% attendance. Reports from the remaining 153 schools were pending at that time.
The district has a total enrolment of 5,63,763 students in government schools, including madrasas and Sanskrit schools. Of these, attendance-related data for 5,26,870 students had been recorded in the report. The department has since stated that reports have now been received from approximately 99% of schools.
Block-wise figures show that Raniganj recorded full compliance, with all schools submitting their reports. The block has 302 schools and 77,251 enrolled students.
In Narpatganj, 240 of the 253 schools had submitted their reports. The block has a total enrolment of 68,714 students.
Araria block has 333 schools with 92,329 enrolled students, while Forbesganj has 283 schools and 89,107 students. Jokihat has 300 schools with 72,344 students enrolled.
Bhargama has a total student enrolment of 46,025. In Palasi, 53,012 students are enrolled across 224 schools. Kursakanta has 141 schools with 34,128 students, while Sikti has 156 schools and 30,853 enrolled students.
The DBT-based schemes for schoolchildren include the Chief Minister's Bicycle Scheme, the Chief Minister's Uniform Scheme for Girls and Boys, the Adolescent Health Scheme, the Merit Scholarship Scheme and the Girls' Intermediate Incentive Scheme, among others.
Students who fulfil the requirement of at least 75% attendance will be eligible for benefits under these schemes, with the money transferred directly to their bank accounts through DBT.
With reports from more than 99% of schools already received, the education department is working to clear the remaining pending submissions and approvals. The outstanding reports from 10 schools and five madrasas remain the final reported gaps in the district's attendance verification process.

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