Madhes Province Offers Scholarships to Empower Girls’ Higher Education

The Madhes Province government has introduced a scholarship program to enhance women’s access to higher education, targeting daughters from the most marginalized and impoverished communities.

The initiative, announced by the Madhes Province Education Directorate, will provide financial assistance to Dalit, Muslim, underprivileged, and academically gifted girl students across all eight districts of the province.

Chief Minister Satish Kumar Singh emphasized that the program aims to ensure that meritorious students from disadvantaged backgrounds are not denied opportunities for higher education. “The scholarship is a step toward educational equity, supporting girls from marginalized families to pursue their academic dreams,” said Singh.

The directorate has already received 1,071 applications for the scholarships. Beneficiaries will receive annual educational support in two categories: NPR 35,000 for technical education and NPR 25,000 for humanities, commerce, and education streams. The provincial government has allocated NPR 15 million for this initiative in the current fiscal year.

This program comes as a response to Madhes’ lagging education indicators. According to the 2078 National Census, Madhes has a literacy rate of 63.5%, with female literacy at a significantly lower 43.2%.

By prioritizing education for girls, particularly from marginalized communities, the provincial government hopes to address disparities and empower women through education.