UP students to get Rs 6000 yearly travel allowance if school is over 5 km away

India Today

11-07-2025

In a significant step towards improving access to education, the Uttar Pradesh government has introduced a new scheme to provide an annual travel allowance of rs 6000 to students who live at least five kilometres away from their schools.This initiative aims to help students from six districts of Bundelkhand and remote Sonbhadra reach their government secondary schools without facing travel hardship.advertisementUnder the scheme, students from Jhansi, Chitrakoot, Jalaun, Hamirpur, Mahoba, Banda and Sonbhadra will be eligible for a 6000 annual travel allowance.
The benefit will be given to students of classes 9 to 12 who live five kilometres or more from the nearest government secondary school.The scheme is being rolled out in the current academic session and is expected to give immediate relief to thousands of students struggling with long commutes.FUNDS TO BE SENT THROUGH DIRECT TRANSFERThe annual assistance will be credited directly into the students' bank accounts via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). According to the plan, the first instalment of the allowance could be released as early as 5 September.Girl students from 146 government schools chosen under the Pradhan Mantri School Vikas Yojana (PM Shri) will also benefit from this new travel allowance scheme.This inclusion ensures broader support for female students, especially those in rural and underserved areas.SIMPLE APPLICATION AND VERIFICATION PROCESSTo receive the benefit, students must fill out a declaration form (pro forma) stating that there is no government secondary school within a five-kilometre radius of their home.This form will then be verified by the Gram Pradhan (village head) at the village level and by the school principal.In urban areas, local councillors will be responsible for verifying the declarations. Once approved, the eligible students will start receiving the allowance.A key condition of the scheme is regular school attendance. Students must also show at least a 10 percent increase in their attendance to continue receiving the allowance. This measure is designed to improve not only access but also student engagement and discipline.THOUSANDS TO BENEFITThe scheme is expected to benefit around 24,000 students across Bundelkhand and Sonbhadra. In addition, approximately 4,000 girl students from PM Shri schools will also receive travel support.This scheme highlights the government's focus on removing barriers to education and improving enrolment and attendance, especially in remote and underserved areas.(With inputs from Ankit Mishra)- Ends