GUWAHATI, June 30 � The All Assam Students Union (AASU) today formally launched its education cell starting with a corpus fund of Rs 5 lakh, a contribution from all the members of the student body.
The cell, formed with the primary objective of encouraging poor but meritorious students with financial aid, would also adopt schemes and projects relevant for the development of education, particularly at the school level.
The student body is aiming to strengthen its corpus fund to Rs 1 crore initially and later increase it to Rs 10 crore.
At a function held at the auditorium of Vikenanada Kendra, the education cell was launched by noted educationist Basanta Deka, who is also the president of the cell, by lighting of a ceremonial lamp.
Speaking on the occasion, Deka assured that the cell would fulfil the aspiration of the student community and observed that later on the parameter for availing aid from the cell should be expanded to cover those students also who have excelled in other fields, like art, culture, literature and sports. He said that needy students of the State, irrespective of language, caste and community are eligible for help from the cell.
Deka further said that he was hopeful the cell would be able to realize the vision of Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha who had felt the need for changing the education system. Adviser of the AASU, Dr Samujjal Bhattacharya said that the student body decided to form the education cell for the benefit of the students as the role of the government in this regard was very pathetic. �The students who passed the HSLC and HS in 2005 got their scholarship in 2010. This is the present state of affair in the concerned government department. So the AASU has come forward to ensure that the needy students got financial help at the right time to continue their studies,� said Bhattacharya.
It may be mentioned here that the AASU decision to form the cell was taken in 2009.
