Azim Premji Foundation to help up to 2.5 lakh girls across 18 states pursue higher education
Bengaluru, May 15 (PTI): Azim Premji Foundation announced Azim Premji Scholarship on Thursday to support girls pursuing higher education after school.
Speaking to PTI, Anurag Behar, Chief Executive Officer, Azim Premji Foundation, said they have decided on 18 states: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
"These states were chosen because we have more partners and more ground presence in these states. Our intention is to expand it to the whole country by next academic year or the year after at most," said Behar.
According to him, they have really simple eligibility criteria. "Girls who have done their class 10 and 12 schooling in government schools with admission in a bona-fide higher education institution in a degree or diploma programme," added Behar.
Selected students will receive Rs 30,000 per year, payable in two instalments.
"After the completion of the year, and once it is verified that they are continuing their education, the next cycle will begin. This will continue until they complete their course," said Behar.
Behar said they are likely to sponsor nearly 2.5 lakh students.
"We did a pilot round in the academic year 2024-25, containing ourselves to Madhya Pradesh, and certain districts of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Jharkhand. We received nearly 1.10 lakh applications. Out of which only 25,000 were eligible," he added.
The Foundation, said Behar, is making a significant commitment to support girls to pursue higher education.
"This will help them gain greater control over their life's trajectory," he added.
The application process for the 2025-26 cycle will start in September 2025.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Delhi court acquits Swati Maliwal accused of revealing rape victim's name
New Delhi (PTI): A Delhi court on Thursday acquitted AAP MP Swati Maliwal accused of allegedly disclosing the identity of a 14-year-old rape victim who succumbed to injuries.
Additional chief judicial magistrate Neha Mittal acquitted Maliwal.
A detailed order is awaited.
Delhi Police booked Maliwal in 2016 when she was the chairperson of Delhi Commission for Women, and said there was a blatant violation of provisions of Juvenile Justice Act, which protect the identity of a minor victim of sexual offence.
The minor girl succumbed to her injuries on July 23, 2016, at a hospital after being sexually assaulted by her neighbour who allegedly forced a corrosive substance down her throat and damaged her internal organs.
The police said Maliwal circulated a notice she sent to the area deputy commissioner of police, in which she sought to know about the investigation in the case.
The notice, which was given to the print and electronic media, reportedly named the victim.
The FIR alleged the notice was "intentionally circulated" on various WhatsApp groups and shown by TV channels.
