Mizo students receive Ambedkar scholarships

Aizawl, June 20 (UNI) For the first time since the inception of Dr Ambedkar Merit Scholarship for Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribes (SC/ST) students in 2002, Mizo students passing the High School examination were awarded scholarships through the Deputy Commissioner's office here today.

The rules, framed by the Dr Ambedkar Foundation, which sponsors the scholarships, stipulates that apart from being SC/ST a student whose parents' total income in a year did not exceed Rs one lakh would only be eligible for the scholarship.

The merit scholarship is awarded to the three highest mark scorers from the ST/SC category of a recognised school.

Besides, a special scholarship is also awarded.

The highest scorer received Rs 60,000, second highest Rs 50,000, third highest Rs 40,000 and special scholarship awardee recieved Rs 10,000.

The awardees for 2003 in order of merit are Zoremmawii of Zotlang, Lucy Malsawmtluangi of Chaltlang, Malsawmzuala of Tuikhuahtlang and K C Lalramchuani of Zotlang, all from here.

"I am very happy that students excelling in their examinations are awarded with cash awards which are very substantial compared to scholarships they used to receive earlier,'' Aizawl district Deputy Commissioner Vanengmawia said.

He said these scholarships would prove very beneficial for the students.

All states and Union Territories have their own SC/ST quotas and Mizoram also has a quota of two STs and one SC.

However, Laldawngliana, Mizoram Board of School Education secretary informed that they were unable to find a SC candidate for the scholarships.

UNI SNR KK KD BST0420