Student READY Program

Details about Student READY (Rural Entrepreneurship Awareness Development Yojana)

The Student READY (Rural Entrepreneurship Awareness Development Yojana) program is designed to equip undergraduate students with practical skills in agriculture and allied sciences, focusing on rural entrepreneurship. The program’s goal is to build confidence and hands-on experience, preparing students for self-employment and entrepreneurship in rural areas.

Key Features of the Student READY Program:

1. Experiential Learning: Students gain practical skills by working on real-life business models, helping them develop the competence and confidence to start their own enterprises.
2. Rural Agricultural Work Experience (RAWE): This component provides students with firsthand experience in rural settings, allowing them to work directly with farm families, understand their challenges, and apply agricultural technologies.
3. In-Plant Training (IPT)/Industrial Attachment: Students get exposure to industrial environments, gaining practical knowledge that aligns with industry needs, which is crucial for their future careers.
4. Student Projects: These projects help students develop analytical skills and experience in project management, research, and problem-solving, essential for those pursuing higher education or careers in research and development.

The program is mandatory in the fourth year of undergraduate studies in various disciplines such as Agriculture, Dairy Technology, Horticulture, and more. By providing practical training and real-world experience, the Student READY program aims to create a new generation of skilled, confident, and entrepreneurial graduates who can contribute to sustainable rural development.

Benefits of Student READY Program

Stipend: Each student receives a stipend of ₹3,000 per month for up to six months. This includes ₹2,500 from ICAR and ₹500 from the State Government. An additional ₹500 per student, provided by ICAR, covers operational expenses such as faculty fees, contingencies, and other necessary costs during the program.

Mode of Payment

• Payment Process:
  • The stipend begins once a student starts their RAWE, in-plant training, internship, or industrial attachment.
  • The university receives the funds in advance as a lump sum, based on a demand submitted to ICAR.
  • The stipend is directly transferred to the student’s bank account via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), linked to their AADHAR (UID).
  • The university is required to submit a compiled bank statement to ICAR annually.
  • Failure to provide the state’s share of ₹500 per student may result in ICAR halting grants to the university.

Termination of Stipend

• Conditions for Termination: The stipend will be discontinued if a student leaves the course before completion, changes their discipline, or transfers to another university without valid reasons and prior approval from the Competent Authority.

What is the eligibility criteria for Student READY Program?

• Enrollment: The student must be enrolled in an undergraduate program at a State Agricultural University (SAU), Deemed University (DU), Central Agricultural University (CAU), or Central University (CU) under the National Agricultural Research and Education System (NARES). The course must be accredited by the National Agricultural Education Accreditation Board (NAEAB) of ICAR, New Delhi.
• Merit and Conduct: The student must maintain good academic performance and behavior, as certified by the Head of their College, University, or Institution. Absences from the program are not allowed without prior approval from the Competent Authority.
• Restrictions: The student must not participate in any strikes or agitations. Additionally, they should not take up any part-time jobs or receive any other financial assistance for the same activities during the program.

How to apply for Student READY Program?

• Registration: The students shall first register for RAWE-SPW program at the concerned College on the date notified by the University / Associate Dean/ Principal of the College. After registration at the College, students will report to the Coordinator of the RAWE-SPW program to whom students are attached.
• Selection of placement centres for RAWE-SPW: The selection of organizations/units/farmers will have to be done by the principal / his nominee well in advance.
• Selection of villages/towns: Five to Six students will be placed in each village, therefore on the basis of the number of students, the sufficient number of villages should be selected by the principal/co-ordinator of the colleges well in advance.
• Placement of the students: The students after orientation should report to the concerned host farmer allotted to them. They should report to the concerned placement center within seven days after registration. Once the students are allotted to a particular placement center, they will not be allowed to change their placement. After completion of the RAWE program students is transferred to student project work in a selected unit.

What are the documents required to apply for Student READY Program?

1. Submission of Demand/ Proposal as per format
2. UC/AUC of Previous Financial Year
3. Details of students in the prescribed format
4. College-wise & Head-wise Expenditure in Annexure
5. Unspent balance refunded

Source and References

• Program Details
• Guidelines