AAP scheme to fund higher education of 100 Dalit students overseas

NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government on Thursday launched a scheme to fund higher studies of around 100 Dalit students overseas.

The decision, taken during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, decided to provide financial assistance of up to Rs 10 lakh for a two-year course and up to Rs 20 lakh for a four-year course to the candidates.

Meritorious students who have secured admission to M Phil, PhD, LLM, M.Tech and other higher education courses in foreign universities will be able to apply under the scheme, Delhi's SC/ST minister Rajendra Pal Gautam said.

The applicants should be residents of Delhi and their family income should not exceed Rs 8 lakh per annum, he said.

It's happening for the first time in Delhi, Gautam added.

Gautam said according to the proposal of the SC/ST Welfare Department, students will get the scholarship in the field of Engineering and Management; Pure Sciences and Applied Sciences; Agricultures Sciences and Medicine; International Commerce, Accounting and Finance; and Humanities and Social Science from accredited universities.

"The students, below 30 years of age, with 55 per cent marks in Master Degree will be eligible for the Ph.D scholarship, while those with 55 per cent marks in Bachelors Degree will be eligible for the Master Degree," he added.

Gautam said after completion of the course, the candidate will have to submit the course completion certificate by the concerned Institution/University to the Secretary, Department for Welfare of SC/ST/OBC, Delhi.

"The candidate also has to give an undertaking that he/she has not received any scholarship financial assistance from any government/other organisation including university/college for

the same course he/she is applying under the scheme," he said.