NALSA (Financial Assistance for Dropout and Disadvantaged Children) Scheme, 2025
Beneficiary:
The NALSA (Financial Assistance for Dropout and Disadvantaged Children) Scheme, 2025, is designed to support children who face economic hardship and are at risk of educational exclusion. It specifically targets children who have been absent from school for over 30 days due to financial constraints, those who have never been enrolled in school as defined under Section 2(n) of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, and children in need of care and protection who fall into either of these categories.
Benefits:
Under this scheme, eligible children receive monthly financial assistance aimed at removing economic barriers to education and promoting equal access to learning opportunities. The funds are credited either to the child’s bank account or, if the child is unable to open one, to the account of a parent or guardian. This financial support is part of a broader effort to ensure continuity in education for disadvantaged children.
How To Apply
The scheme does not require individual applications. Instead, it operates through a proactive identification process managed by the District Education and Support Unit (DESU), which is constituted by the State Legal Services Authority in each district. DESU prepares the list of eligible children based on data provided by the District Education Officer and conducts inquiries into cases of prolonged school absence. Financial disbursements are made only after obtaining prior approval from the Presiding Officer of the DESU.