The BJP government in Rajasthan has removed the name of Indira from girl empowerment scheme in the state. The Indira Priyadarshini Puruskar Yojana under which girls toppers in Classes 10 and 12 of the Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE) are given cash awards has now been renamed as Padmakshi Puruskar Yojana.
As per the press note furnished by state education department, the award will be given on Basant Panchami (arrival of spring) at district-level functions every year beginning with 2017-18 session. The Indira Priyadarshini Puruskar Yojana scheme was started by former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot government in 2010-11 to award Rs 50,000 to Class 12 and Rs 40,000 to Class 10 district toppers.
As per the press note, meritorious girl students of general, scheduled caste, scheduled tribe, other backward class, minorities and below poverty lines categories who score the highest in RBSE exams in Class 8, 10 and 12 will be awarded cash and a certificate. However under Indira Priyadarshini Puruskar Yojana had no provision for students of class 8th.
Reacting to the change in the name of scheme former chief minister Gehlot said, "This is narrow mindedness of BJP government to change the name of existing scheme because it had the name of Indira in it. This is not for the first time government has tried to remove the name of Congress stalwarts, the same trend could be seen in the new textbooks also."
Published 03 July 2017, 15:02 IST