Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani on Saturday announced that IIT admission fees of Pratapgarh brothers Raju and Brijesh, sons of a daily wager, would be waived even as support poured in from several quarters, including Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. Bollywood actor Aamir Khan too called the brothers and advised to continue study without any worry.
The two brothers’ “registration fees will be waived and (they) will be eligible for scholarships that cover tuition, mess and other charges,” Irani tweeted, after the plight of the family to arrange the fees appeared in sections of media.Raju (18) and Brijesh (19), sons of a daily wager from Rehua lalganj village in Uttar Pradesh’s Pratapgarh, have cleared the IIT Advanced examinations earlier this year. Raju secured 167th rank in his first attempt while his brother Brijesh stood 410th in the prestigious exam.
Earlier in the day, Congress vice-president also spoke to the brothers over the phone and assured them all help. He, subsequently, directed local party leaders including Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tewari and his daughter and MlA Aradhana to extend all necessary help to them.While Yadav too extended help and announced that his government would honour the two brothers and bear the expenses of their admission and education, Sulabh International founder Chairman Bindeshwari Pathak also assured help and said it would take care of all financial expenses of the brothers.
“Sulabh will take care of all financial expenses of Raju and Brijesh. I will personally ensure that money does not become a hurdle for the duo in getting admission in IITs,” Pathak said in a statement.The duo’s father Dharamraj works for a Surat mill. The fees for the IIT programme runs to `50,000 (`30,000 admission fee and `20,000 for the first semester). Counselling begins on June 25.