New Delhi, Sep 11 (IANS): Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Smriti Irani Thursday said the government has designed two programmes specifically keeping in mind students from the northeastern region.

The two programmes - Ishan Uday and Ishan Vikas - are part of initiatives taken by the HRD ministry in its first 100 days.

"Ishan Uday provides 10,000 scholarships to students from the northeast with parental income below Rs.4.5 lakh per annum for undergraduate studies. And in Ishan Vikas, teachers and students from the northeast will be facilitated with an interaction with the IITs, IIMs and IISERs in order to enhance their capacity, capability and their desire to pursue technical education," Irani said answering a question on the steps taken by her ministry for the region.

Answering another question on minority students, Irani said at a press conference here that such students will be part of the government's scheme Pragati, so that they can avail the benefits of higher as well as technical education.

Pragati, a scheme by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), envisages selection of one girl per family whose family income is less that Rs.6 lakh per annum on merit at the qualifying education to pursue education.

Highlighting the government's efforts in promoting the participation of disadvantaged groups in the educational process, the minister said the AICTE through its Saksham programme has decided to award 1,000 scholarships to differently-abled students to pursue technical education based on merit in qualifying examination, while the CBSE's UDAAN will provide special incentives to 1,000 selected disadvantaged girls to enable admission in science or engineering colleges.