Bhubaneswar: With eligible students from HIV/AIDS-affected families left out of financial support for higher studies under an aid scheme because of a lack of awareness, Odisha State AIDS Control Society (Osacs) and higher education department have jointly decided to identify them and ensure they avail Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana, which provides Rs 20,000 annual assistance.Under the scheme, students whose father, mother or both parents are affected by HIV/AIDS can avail themselves of the assistance, subject to the prescribed eligibility conditions. Students living with HIV are also eligible for the benefit.The issue came up for discussion at a meeting between Osacs project director Akshay Kumar Satapathy and higher education director Kali Prasanna Mahapatra recently. Officials stressed the need to ensure that eligible students apply for the scheme through the prescribed process.The focus is particularly on students from HIV/AIDS-affected families, who form one of the eligible categories under the sikhya sahayata yojana. Both officials discussed mechanisms to identify students who may be missing out on the benefit simply because they are unaware of the scheme or do not have adequate information about the application procedure.Eligible students pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate courses are entitled to Rs 20,000 per year under the scheme. The assistance is available for non-technical, technical and professional courses, and can help students meet expenses related to education, study materials, transportation and other academic requirements.Satpathy said to improve outreach, Osacs plans to use its district-level service centres and partner organisations to identify students from HIV/AIDS-affected families pursuing higher education and make them aware of the scheme and the application procedure.Officials also discussed using Red Ribbon Clubs functioning in colleges as an additional channel to spread awareness about the sikhya sahayata yojana and other govt educational assistance schemes among students.As financial difficulties and social stigma can create additional barriers for students from HIV-affected families seeking to continue their education, the officials also emphasised the need to ensure that such students and those living with HIV do not face discrimination in educational institutions, and are provided a respectful and supportive learning environment.The scheme also covers other vulnerable categories besides HIV/AIDS-affected families. These include homeless, destitute and poor families, Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups, single-mother families, orphans requiring special care, transgender students and students rescued from child marriage who are staying in recognised shelter homes or hostels.