72 Sikkimese youth gets educational loan for studying abroad

GANGTOK, October 5: A total of 70 youth from various parts of the State have taken loans under Comprehensive Educational Loan Scheme (CELS) to pursue higher studies within the country and abroad in this financial year of 2009-10.
Out of them, sixty have taken the educational loans for studying within the country while the remaining are studying abroad, informs an official report.
Under CLES, which is being implemented through SIDICO, the maximum loan amount for study within Sikkim is Rs. 5 lakhs while it is Rs. 7.5 lakhs for study in other parts of the country and Rs. 15 lakhs in other nations. The CLES is meant for the benefit of eligible educated unemployed youth desiring to take up higher academic studies and professional courses outside the State and even abroad.
In its first year of operation, loans were sanctioned under CLES to 46 youth in 2007-08. Out of them, 19 youth are pursuing higher studies abroad.
Similarly, loans were sanctioned to 43 youth to study aboard while 100 youth received loans to studying within India under CLES during 2008-09.