Bhubaneswar, July 17: The state school and mass education department launched the Pathani Samanta Math Talent Scholarship scheme yesterday. Named after eminent astronomer of the state, Pathani Samanta, the incentive aims to encourage rural talents at the primary and secondary school levels who excel in mathematics.

All poor, meritorious students in rural Oriya medium government schools, both aided and unaided, are expected to be covered under this scheme. This will be about 7,500 students — 10 each from 314 blocks and from 63 municipalities, five each from 37 notified area committees and 15 each from the three municipal corporations and another 4,000 students.

For this purpose, a fund of Rs 20 crore has been sanctioned. A total of 4,000 students (Stage I) from Classes VI to VIII would be given a monthly scholarship amount of Rs 200. There are 2,500 new scholarships in Stage II for students in Classes IX and X who will get Rs 300.

The methodology of implementation of the 1,000 Stage III scholarships will be taken as a whole in consultation with secretary of higher education. These 1,000 students in Classes IX and X will be eligible for a monthly boost of Rs 500. An examination would be conducted in October or November to select deserving students from three categories of students from Classes VI to XII. The results would be published in December. From next year, the scholarship test would be conducted early, preferably during April.

The director of elementary education will be the nodal officer in the scheme.