AICTE helps empower technical education among girls with Pragati Scheme
New Delhi : The Pragati Scheme, spearheaded by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) aimed at providing assistance for girls pursuing technical education is progressing steadily in India. Over the past five years, AICTE has given scholarships to thousands of students all across India, and it includes girls from marginalized sections in the northeast region and Jammu Kashmir. Under this scheme AICTE provides financial assistance of Rs 50,000 per annum for every year of study to eligible Girl Students studying in AICTE approved institutions and courses.
In year 2020-21, under Pragati Scheme AICTE has disbursed scholarships to 480 Girl students studying in AICTE approved institutions and courses in Jammu and Kashmir alone, a multi-fold rise since the inception of this scheme in 2014. In 2019, only one girl received the Pragati scholarship in Assam, while in 2020, 244 girl students studying in AICTE Approved Institutions in Assam received the financial benefits of Rs 50,000 per annum. In addition to these 182 girl students from various institutions in Tripura were also selected under the Pragati scholarship scheme. In total 515 girl students from institutions in North East Region were part of the scheme. The popularity of the scheme could be seen from the fact that 10 Girl Students from Institutions in Andaman & Nicobar island, 62 from the Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu and 11 from Ladakh have received the scholarship.
In addition to the above AICTE has distributed 6656 scholarships to the meritorious girl students from other states of India namely Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chandigarh(UT), Chhattisgarh, Delhi(NCT), Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Puduchery (UT), Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telengana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand & West Bengal in the academic year 2020-21.
"AICTE considers it as a privilege to work for the young female brains in the nation. This initiative is literally revolutionizing the educational sector in India by bringing more girl students to the technical forefront," said AICTE Chairman Prof. Anil D Sahasrabudhe.
AICTE vice-chairman Prof. MP Poonia said, "Pragati Scheme believes in one single motto of empowering women through technical education. Through this program, thousands of girl students have successfully enhanced their careers. The program will also help students to boost their self-confidence and knowledge, thus shaping their future effectively."
"AICTE is very happy to give scholarships to young girl students in the country with the Pragati Scheme. We hope that such initiatives could bring more girl students to the technical forefront in next few years" said AICTE member secretary Prof Rajive Kumar.
Dr Amit Kumar Srivastava, Director, Student Development Cell (StDC), AICTE said, "AICTE is doing a remarkable job by spearheading such an initiative aimed at empowering the girl students in India. Through this program, we will be able to elevate the technical knowledge of girl students, thusaiding them to reach newer heights of success and glory in their career."