The department has undertaken a Rs 6-crore project to provide free coaching to students of minority communities, said Abdus Sattar, Minority Affairs Minister on Saturday. Inaugurating the project ‘Free coaching and allied scheme’, he said, “The career-oriented coaching will not only impart specific skills to the students but would also help them get jobs.”

The candidates will be provided with free coaching for IAS, WBCS and several other competitive examinations, he added.

“Initially, we have selected 650 students to be given training in three institutes selected by the state government. We are planning to take more students next year depending on the success of the scheme. We have 12 centres in 12 districts but we plan to set up at least one centre in each district of the state so that the students from remote areas can also avail the facilities,” he added.

He said the students would initially be trained at three institutes — Academy of Civil Services, Guidance Foundation and Alamin Mission. During their training, while local students will get Rs 750 per month as stipend, outsiders will get Rs 1500. This facility can be availed only once by the students.