Free education to ten girls under Kalpana Chawla Ladli scheme

Mr B L Chawla, father of late astronaut Kalpana Chawla, would launch 'Kalpana Chawla Ladli' scheme for girls at Midtown Grand here on August 8. The function is being organised by the Kalpana Chawla group of Institutions, Hisar. Chairman of the group Mr Sunil Sharma told newsmen here today, 'Mr B L Chawla, father of late Kalpana Chawla, would interact with the boys and girls of all institutions of Hisar at Midtown Grand here on August 8. He would launch 'Kalpana Chawla Ladli' scheme for girls on that day.

Under the scheme of the Kalpana Chawla Group of Institutions at Hisar, free education will be provided to eight girls in the IT sector and two girls in B.Ed college.

The scheme will also give an opportunity to two girls every year to visit NASA and USA.

The astronaut's father B L Chawla would launch the scheme here on August 8 next and he would also interact with the boys and girls of the Institutions, chairman of the Group Sunil Sharma told reporters on Friday.

"Kalpana Chawla has been a role-model for the girls. The youths would know about her life from her father and imbibe those virtues which took her to such heights that the world praised her talent and courage," Sharma said.

Over 40,000 scholarships provided to minority community

As many as 42,476 scholarships were awarded to students from minority communities during 2011-12 under the merit-cum-means scholarship scheme of the ministry of minority affairs, it was announced on Thursday.

According to the ministry, an amount of Rs.115.72 crores was spent on the purpose during the year.

"Of these 32,723 scholarships went to students belonging to the Muslim community; 5,764 were awarded to Christian students; 3,463 to Sikh students; 516 to Buddhist students and 10 to the students belonging to the Parsi community," the ministry said.

For 2012-13, the budgetary provision for this scheme has been increased to Rs 220 crore and the physical target has also been increased to 80,000 scholarships.

The scheme is meant for the students belonging to the minority communities studying in technical and professional courses.

The scheme also provides for earmarking 30 percent of the target for girls. During 2011-12, the percentage of girl students benefiting from scholarship scheme was 36.82.

This scheme was launched in 2007-08 and cumulatively 162,967 scholarships have been awarded till March 2012.