Porvorim (Goa) The government today decided to extend the benefits of its flagship scheme, providing loan to the schools to construct their infrastructure, to the institutions imparting education to special children.

State Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar announced that the inclusion of the schools providing education to special children was cleared during the cabinet meeting held this afternoon near here.

The scheme which is introduced to help the schools construct infrastructure by providing grant loan was introduced in the year 2015 under which grant up to Rs one to two crore were provided to the institutions.

“But unluckily at that time schools imparting education to Special Children were left out of the eligibility criteria,” Parrikar said adding that there are 22 schools working for special children who also will now be able to take benefit of this scheme.

“Goa Cabinet took the decision to extend the scheme to these schools working for special children. No new application of the school in general category (other than school for special children) would be entertained,” he said.

Parrikar said that the State government will modify the scheme next month after holding consultations with the stakeholders who will deliberate on the requirements of the special children.

The loan amount which is provided under this scheme can be used to create or improve infrastructure like construction or renovation of school building, toilets, hostel, playground and others