Welfare schemes for OBC, SC highlighted
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, August 04 2026: Officials of the Directorate of OBC, SC and Minority Affairs highlighted various welfare and development initiatives during the 9th session of the "Meet the Press" series, organised by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) at its auditorium at Nityaipat Chuthek, Imphal West today.

At the "Meet the Press" session, the Directorate of OBC, SC and Minority Affairs was represented by its Director Dr Yumnam Suraj Singh; Joint Director Linda Ningombam, Joint Director Md Salaudin Khan, Field Inspector K Ricky Sharma; and Field Inspector M Ranjita.

Welfare schemes for OBC, SC highlighted

Addressing media persons, Dr Yumnam Suraj Singh said the Directorate is committed to the socio-economic and educational development of Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the State.

He informed that the Directorate is implementing several Centrally sponsored schemes under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment along with State plan programmes.

Highlighting educational support initiatives, he said that financial assistance is provided to eligible OBC and SC students under Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarship Schemes, covering studies up to the PhD level under a 90:10 Centre-State funding pattern.

During the last four academic years, 771 OBC Pre-Matric, 98,631 OBC Post-Matric, 3,445 SC Pre-Matric and 25,406 SC Post-Matric scholarships were awarded, he said.

He further informed that scholarship applications for the 2026-27 academic session are being invited through the National Scholarship Portal till September 30, 2026 .

Dr Suraj Singh also highlighted that two 100-bedded OBC Boys' Hostels are being constructed at Sainik School, Imphal, each costing Rs 3.50 crore.

He further stated that the Directorate is implementing State-funded Economic Skill Development Programme (ESDP), which provides NSQF-compliant skill training along with toolkits to successful trainees.

During 2025-26, the programme targets to cover 1,363 beneficiaries, including General, OBC, SC communities and IDPs, with a total project cost of Rs 135.89 lakh.

He also highlighted the Chief Minister's Lairik Heiminnashi Programme, under which six months of free remedial coaching is provided to OBC and SC students studying in Classes VIII to XII.

For 2025-26, an outlay of Rs 60 lakh has been approved for 10 coaching centres benefiting 1,040 students.

Dr Suraj Singh said the Directorate has accorded special priority to the welfare of Internally Displaced Persons.

Under the ESDP Scheme, 771 OBC and SC IDPs received skill training during 2023-24, while 509 beneficiaries were covered during 2024-25 .

For 2025-26, 681 OBC and SC IDPs have been proposed for skill training.

Similarly, under the PM-AJAY Grants-in-Aid Component, 1,440 SC IDPs have been proposed for skill training during 2023-24 to 2025-26 .

Altogether, 3,401 OBC and SC IDPs are expected to benefit under these initiatives with a cumulative outlay of Rs 10.59 crore, he said.