Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, the late seer Shivaratri Rajendra Swami was the inspiration for him to launch the Vidyasiri scheme, as the seer had established hostels to help poor students pursue education some five to six decades ago.
Speaking during the valedictory ceremony of the birth centenary celebrations of the late seer, at Suttur, in Nanjangud taluk, on Monday, the CM recalled how he had to face difficulties as a student, due to lack of hostel facility.
The initiatives of Rajendra Swami resulted in lakhs of students getting higher education and rendering service to the society over the years. “The seer started hostels when such facilities were unheard of in rural areas to encourage education among the masses. The students who do not get admission in hostels make their own arrangements. They rent a room and cook their food. So, such students are provided Rs 1,500 per month for 10 months in an academic year. One lakh students will get the benefit in the state Under Vidyasiri scheme,” he said.
“Before Independence, a majority of the people were deprived of education due to various reasons. During those times, Rajendra Swami made sincere efforts to ensure the poor, especially those from Dalit communities and women, have access to education. He had realised that education is the key for development even before Independence. Besides, he strove for quality education. The JSS Mahavidyapeeth, founded by the late seer, has kept his legacy of quality education alive,” he said. He pointed out that out of 60,000 students studying in more than 350 JSS institutions, at least 15,000 students are getting free food and accommodation.
Ministers H S Mahadev Prasad, M B Patil, Tanveer Sait, and Rudrappa Lamani, Legislative Council Deputy Chairman Marithibbegowda, Rajya Sabha member Prabhakar B Kore, MLAs M K Somasekhar, C Jayanna and Puttarangashetty, MLC R Dharmasena and former minister P G R Sindhia were present.
