New Delhi: Professor Nandini Sundar, from the Faculty of Social Sciences of University of Delhi, popularly known as Delhi University (DU), has announced a special scholarship scheme in the name of Irom Sharmila, the Iron Lady of Manipur. The scholarship scheme will be known as “Irom Sharmila Scholarship” and would be worth Rs50000.
Known for her grit and unwavering resolve, Irom is a world renowned civil rights activist from the state of Manipur. She has been on hunger strike, since November 2000, demanding from the Indian government to abolish the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA). She holds this stringent Act responsible for all the violence in Manipur and other parts of northeast India.
Explaining more about the scholarship scheme, Professor Sundar informed, that the scholarship is open to any graduate student studying any course from any university / college in Delhi. After getting sufficient applications, the jury panel of four members will interview and select the deserving students.
However, candidates who come from AFSPA affected areas, have suffered under AFSPA or similar laws or can demonstrate financial need will be preferred. As the main motive behind this scheme is to honour Sharmila's role in the fight against AFSPA, she clarified.
Interested candidates, who want to get benefits of the scheme, must apply for the same by March 14, which is in fact Irom Sharmila’s birthday.
