Asem Bhakta, Special Correspondent North East
Assam Rifles, through its several outreach programmes, has been in regular contact with Internally Displaced students in Manipur. Many of these students deserve better oppertunities for pusuing higher education but due to ethnic clashes and disturbance they are unable to pursue their dreams. In order to fulfill its commitment towards upliftment of Internally Displaced children, Assam Rifles selected 4 meritorious students from various displaced communities through rigorous selection procedure, individual personality tests and academic coaching.
These students belonged to lower socio-economic status with no means to pursue higher education post completion of 12th standard.
The students had displayed academic merit and extraordinary extra-curricular performance, however, despite showing promise and academic potential, these students were struggling to enroll in institutes of higher education due to prevailing ethnic violence in their home districts which resulted in their displacement.
Assam Rifles approached the Vice Chancellor of a reputed University in Gujarat for providing scholarship to these selected students. The VC approved full relaxation of admission and tuition fees ( amounting to Rs 20 lacs for each student) for BSc in Biotechnology course for academic year 2024. Assam Rifles’ relentless pursuit has led to this breakthrough for the students who alongwith their respective guardians will be flying to Ahmedabad from Imphal on 15th August 2024.
Families of the students, their respective communities and local population have expressed their gratitude for this commendable initiative of Assam Rifles which not only provided ray of light to the students in the darkest of times but continues to be a beacon of hope. The plight of internal displacement has ravaged various communities in Manipur and students are particularly affected by this conflict.
