We will increase number of scholars and include other classes in the scheme: CM
Ranchi, September 23: “Jharkhand is the first state to give scholarship to students of tribal communities to study abroad,” said Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren while felicitating first cohort of six tribal students selected for the overseas scholarship for UK.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren said, “Jaipal Singh Munda was the first tribal who received higher education at Oxford, he was also a part of the Constitution Committee with Baba Saheb Ambedkar. With immense pride, I can say that despite being a very weak and suppressed community, this state has a legacy of producing leaders like Birsa Munda, Poto-Ho, Veer Buddhu Bhagat, Sidho-Kanhu, Nilambar-Pitambar and many more. We will have to learn from them and take our state ahead on the path of development.”
“Present era is a scientific era and our tribal population is backward in this domain. Our government is committed to ensure that students need not suffer due to the lack of funds, in past, our government had started a scheme of rewarding top three students from all the Jharkhand boards but later it was disbanded by the new government. However, our government is back and we have restarted that crucial scheme,” said Soren.
The chief minister further said, “We hope that in the coming days, other students will also get inspired from them, the tribal youth will represent our culture, our values, our society on the world stage and will bring glory to Jharkhand and the rest of the country. We hope to support more students under this scheme, If we need to support more students, we will increase the scholar limit 10-20-25 students. Not only tribal students, but we will also try to add other communities within the ambit of this scheme. This is just a start. We have prepared the path; we have to walk miles,” said Soren.
Earlier, Hemant Soren and tribal welfare minister Champai Soren felicitated the students selected for the ‘Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Overseas Scholarship Scheme’ and their parents at a program organized in Ranchi. Chief Minister Champai Soren also launched the booklet of ‘Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Overseas Scheme-Giving wings to the future of Jharkhand’. Also, the chief minister felicitated the Son of Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda, Jayant Jaipal Singh Munda, who was also present during the occasion.
During the event, tribal welfare commissioner Naman Priyesh Lakra briefed regarding the selection process of the awardees and all the benefits which they would be entitled to. The awardees of the scholarship are entitled to a complete cover of tuition fees along with living and other miscellaneous expenses. Under this scheme, every year 10 students will be selected from the Scheduled Tribes category residing in Jharkhand.
Among the students, Hercules Singh Munda is going on to pursue an M.A. at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies. Ajitesh Murmu is going to study M.A. in Architecture at the University College of London. Akanksha Mary has been selected for an MSc in Climate Change Science and Management at Loughborough University, while Dinesh Bhagat will pursue MSc in Climate Change, Development and Policy at the University of Sussex. Apart from this, Anjana Pratima Dungdung has been selected for MSc at the University of Warwick and Priya Murmu will pursue a MA in Creative Writing and the Writing Industries at Loughborough University. Under the scheme, these students hailing from the Scheduled Tribes will be benefitted with a full cover of Tuition fees, living and other expenses including annual maintenance fees, annual equipment and contingency, visa fees, medical insurance etc.
