1,500 scholarships for disabled students

Updated on: Monday, November 21, 2011

The National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (NHFDC) announced 1,500 scholarships for persons with disabilities on Saturday.

During the celebration of the 26th Foundation Day of Indira Gandhi National Open University (Ignou), Harsh Bhal, chairman cum managing director, NHFDC, while announcing the scholarships said: "Under this scheme, a student with visual or hearing disability is also provided one time facility of aids and appliances. This scholarship scheme is being implemented from the current academic year and includes total fee reimbursement, books, stationery allowance and maintenance allowance. This scholarship scheme is also applicable to distance education universities like Ignou. It is also available to those students who are pursuing PhD or MPhil degrees."

The scholarships are to be offered under the scholarship schemes run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. While announcing the scholarships, nine differently abled students of Ignou were awarded the scholarships.

On the occasion vice chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, professor S K Sopory, delivered the foundation day lecture on 'The current higher educational scenario in India'.

Sopory emphasised on accessibility, innovation and expansion as the key words towards promotion of higher education in the country. "JNU's admission policy has given preference to socially backward people. We must emphasise on how to foster excellence in teaching and research. We have to maintain a specific policy. How do we do that? We must make students choose life for career and not career for life."

There are two scholarship schemes launched, viz, trust fund and national fund. Under the Trust fund, scholarships will be awarded on quarterly basis. Maintenance allowance will be paid to the students for 10 months at Rs 2,500 per month for professional graduate courses and Rs 3,000 per month for professional post graduate courses in one academic year.

Books/ stationery allowance will be paid to students pursuing professional graduate courses at Rs 6,000 per annum and Rs 10,000 per annum pursuing professional post graduate courses.

Under the National Fund scheme, scholarship of Rs 1,000 per month for hostellers and Rs 700 per month for day scholars studying in professional courses at graduation and above level, and Rs 700 per month for hostellers and Rs 400 per month for day scholars pursuing diploma/ certificate level professional courses has been announced.

Times of India

1,500 scholarships for disabled students

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