SC and ST Welfare Minister Gyan Singh inaugurated leadership development camp for meritorious tribal boy and girl students here on Thursday. On the occasion, he gave away Shankar Shah, Rani Durgawati and Bhimrao Ambedkar awards to meritorious students. The Minister also announced to increase prize money for the awards from next year.
Now, the money for first, second and third prize will be Rs 51,000, Rs 31,000 and Rs 21,000 in place of Rs 20,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000, respectively. The camp will continue till January 28. Participants of the camp will be provided opportunity to meet VIPs and taken on sightseeing tour of nearby scenic spots.
Singh said that Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has included in 100-day action plan for development of the tribal students who could not get free bicycles in Class IX will be given the same even if they are now studying Class X or XII. He said that this thinking of the Chief Minister proves that the objective of the State Government is to uplift poor and backward people.
Gyan Singh appreciated meritorious tribal students. Referring to lack of resources and poverty in his childhood, he said that difficulties give way if one is dedicated and hard working. This has been proved true by meritorious tribal students from remote areas of the State assembled here on Thursday. The Minister said that the State Government is starting Baba Saheb Ambedkar National Social Science University at Mhow, Indore to provide opportunities to Scheduled Caste students.
Principal Secretary PC Meena said that assembly of large number of meritorious students here proves that there is no lack of talent in rural areas. But these talents need to be improved. He said that tribal talents of remote areas are being brought forward through leadership development camp.
The Minister gave away Shankar Shah, Rani Durgawati and Bhimrao Ambedkar awards to meritorious tribal students. The first prize of Shankar Shah award for class X pass outs was given to Prabhakar of Sidhi, second to Sagar Singh Dhurve of Mandla and third to Sohan Rawat of Khargone. Shankar Shah award for Class XII pass outs was given to Devraj Singh Marco of Shahdol, second to Rahul Garwal of Jhabua and third to Sagar Darbar of Bhopal. Rani Durgawati award for Board Class X pass outs was given to Shalini Thakur of Narsinghpur, second to Sunaina of Burhanpur and third to Shribala Bilala of Shajapur and Harsha Ureti of Dindori. Rani Durgawati award for Board Class XII pass outs was given to Jyoti Paraste of Mandla, second to Jyoti Dabar of Barwani and third to Ekta Gond of Ujjain.