On the 125th birth anniversary of Dr. BR Ambedkar, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Thursday gave his approval to launch 'Dr. BR Ambedkar Scholarship Scheme' for the brilliant students of 10th and +2 classes of Government schools in the State.
The decision was taken by Badal while presiding over a meeting of 125th Dr. BR Ambedkar Janam Shatabdai Utsav Committee to finalise the year-long celebrations.
The Chief Minister approved those 125 toppers each from class 10th and +2 from Government schools would be awarded with the Scholarship, carrying prize money of `1 lakh and `1.5 lakh respectively from all the districts.
It was also decided in the meeting to organise a series of seminars on the life, philosophy and works of Dr. Ambedkar in the universities of the State. The Chief Minister also constituted a committee which would prepare a detailed schedule for organising the seminars in State and private universities simultaneously.
Initially, Punjabi University, Patiala would hold the seminar dedicated to the 125th Dr. BR Ambedkar Birth Jayanti in July 2016 which would be attended by eminent scholars, political thinkers and academicians.
The Chief Minister also gave his nod to establish Department of Babasaheb Ambedkar Studies in the Punjabi University on the pattern of such Centre already established in Nagpur University, Maharashtra. Badal also asked the Departments of Higher Education and Schools Education to also hold declamation contests, quiz and paper reading competitions on the life and works of Dr. Ambedkar to motivate the students.
The Chief Minister also gave nod to dedicate the first two days of the next Assembly Session exclusively to highlight the philosophy and vision on different facets of the Father of the Constitution besides as a role model to ameliorate the lot of unprivileged sections of society with a sharpened focus.
Badal also gave approval to hold a State level function on the birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar at Phagwara on April 14 this year. He also entrusted the task of getting 47 volumes of Dr. Ambedkar's writings and lectures translated from English to Punjabi to the Punjabi University and asked its Vice Chancellor to form a panel of experts so that this work could be accomplished in a time bound manner.