New Delhi: As part of his series of “guarantees” being announced ahead of the assembly elections in the capital, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday announced ‘Dr Ambedkar Samman Scholarship Yojana‘, promising to cover the entire cost of travel, accommodation and tuition fees, besides other costs, for Dalit students from Delhi pursuing higher education at top international universities.
Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal said the scholarship will be a comprehensive initiative. “I don’t want any child from the Dalit community to be deprived of higher education because of shortage of funds…Delhi govt will cover all their expenses, including tuition fees, travel and other costs,” the AAP chief said.
This is Kejriwal’s fourth guarantee ahead of the assembly polls, which are likely to be held in Feb. The former Delhi CM has already promised insurance and other financial assistance for auto-rickshaw drivers, Rs 2100 for women and free treatment for Delhi voters aged above 60 in private and state-run hospitals if AAP forms govt again.
Kejriwal said the scheme will also be applicable to Dalit children of govt employees, who cannot afford to send their children abroad for education without a scholarship. He added that despite financial constraints, Ambedkar earned two doctorates from foreign universities where it is extremely tough to get admission even today.
Referring to a statement by Union home minister Amit Shah in Parliament earlier this week, the AAP chief alleged that the BJP leader had “insulted and made fun” of Babasaheb Dr Ambedkar. “Crores of people who love Ambedkar were deeply pained….This is our way of empowering the Dalit community and honouring Babasaheb Ambedkar’s legacy,” Kejriwal said, speaking to reporters at the AAP headquarters.”
Applauding the scheme, chief minister Atishi said Kejriwal had consistently allocated 25% of Delhi’s budget to education in the past 10 years. “He made govt schools better than private schools, gave children from poor families an opportunity to clear competitive exams such as JEE and NEET and enabled students in Delhi govt schools to go abroad to study and learn French,” she said.
Senior AAP functionary and former education minister Manish Sisodia posted on X that Dr Ambedkar Samman Scholarship was “not just a scheme but a historic step, laying the foundation of social justice”.