Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Meira Kumar said 13 meritorious Schedule Caste students have been selected to undergo higher education abroad.

Kumar told UNI that her ministry would bear the entire expenditure of imparting best possible education to these students; this is the first time such an initiative has been taken.

Giving details of the selection process, Kumar said a special committee of experts selected the candidates, who hail from the financially weaker sections of the society.

These students have been admitted to different educational institutions in Germany [Images], France [Images], England [Images], Australia and United States.

"As the students would be staying over a period of four years, we will train them in a workshop prior to their departure, so that they can easily adapt to the new environment," Kumar said.

Apart from this, over hundred SC students have been selected for computer studies in Bihar, where they will recieve a monthly scholarship of Rs 500.