PM launches scholarship for wards of ex-servicemen

New Delhi, Nov 14 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today launched the PM's Scholarship Scheme for wards of Ex-Servicemen/widows, stating it is a ''small recognition of the great contribution'' the armed forces make to the nation by safeguarding the borders and protecting the liberties of citizens.

The scheme, announced by Dr Singh in his 2005 Indepedence Day address to the nation, would benefit 5,000 students a year who choose to become professionals by pursuing higher studies to get degrees in engineering, medicine, business administration (MBA) and other streams.

Presenting the scholarships for the first 33 students at a function held at his 7 Race Course official residence, Dr Singh said he felt the need for instituting the scholarship when he was going through the accounts of the National Defence Fund.

Under the scheme, each girl student would get Rs 1,500 a month and every boy Rs 1,250. Of the 5,000 students, 4,000 would be wards of ex-servicemen/widows and 1,000 wards of retired para-military forces personnel and Railway Protection Force Personnel.

This year 6,435 applications were received for the scholarship of which 3,915 were found to be eligible, Defence Minister A K Antony, who was also present along with Home Minister Shivraj Patil, said.

The applicant must have secured at least 60 per cent marks at the plus two level for initial sanction for the scholarship and for renewal in subsequent years 50 per cent marks is required.

The Prime Minister said education and healthcare formed the core of improving the quality of life. Himachal Pradesh had leapfroged on the human development index mainly because of the large number of ex-servicemen in that state who realised the importance of education.

Expressing happiness over the fact that the scholarship scheme was benefitting a large number of girl students, Dr Singh said no nation could progress without the active participation of women in development and change.

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