UK inks MoU with Jharkhand for new scholarship program for marginalised communities 

Climate Resilience Information System and Planning tool state  module launched

Ranchi, August 23: The Jharkhand government on Tuesday signed a pact with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the British High Commission, New Delhi to award the Chevening Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Scholarship to five scholars belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and minority community in the state.

The MoU was signed by Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India, in the presence of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who had made this commitment while launching the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Scholarship last year.

The scholarship will offer full financial support to pursue a one-year master’s in the UK.

Along with the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Overseas Scholarship launched last year, it will expand the opportunities for the youth of Jharkhand to attain quality higher education from world-class universities in the UK, Chief Minister Hemant Soren said.

“Today is a historic day for Jharkhand. Today we are going to show our new generation a new path toward education. Today a historic MoU has been signed between the FCDO of the British High Commission, New Delhi, and the Government of Jharkhand,” he said.

Under the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Scholarship Scheme, only tribal children had gone abroad to pursue higher education in the first phase, the chief minister said.

“Now our government will send tribal as well as backward class children to study abroad under this scholarship scheme for higher education,” he said.

The Chevening Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Scholarship will start in the UK academic year of 2023-24.

The British High Commissioner said there is no dearth of talented students in the state who need support and investment.

Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India, said, “Investing in education and climate are our best gifts to our children and grandchildren. I’m delighted that today, with the gracious support of Chief Minister Soren and our partners across the state of Jharkhand, we are able to do just that. Education in another country can be a defining experience. I’m pleased that each year, five brilliant scholars from the state will have the opportunity to study at the UK’s world-leading universities with full financial support.”

Last year in September, nearly a century after Jharkhand’s tribal icon Jaipal Singh Munda was admitted to St John’s College, Oxford, six meritorious tribal students from the state were selected for the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda overseas scholarship.

They are now pursuing higher studies in prestigious UK institutes under a state-funded scholarship.

The last day to apply for the Chevening Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Scholarship is November 1.

 The UK also launched the Jharkhand module of the Climate Resilience Information System and Planning (CRISP-M) tool. The CRISP-M tool is a web and mobile phone-based geographic information system that will support the planning, implementation and monitoring of the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA scheme, added the release.

It was developed as part of the UK Government’s Infrastructure for Climate Resilient Growth programme in India.

The Jharkhand module of the CRISP-M tool will effectively help integrate climate risk management into the planning and design of social protection; inform early action on drought management with the Jharkhand Drought Early Warning System and help build the resilience of households that are vulnerable to climate change, read the release.