Ranchi
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday launched a free coaching facility for Scheduled Tribe students aspiring to clear medical and engineering entrance examinations in the State.
Established in a building of the State’s Welfare Department, the Dishom Guru Shibu Soren Engineering and Medical Coaching Institute will see the first batch of 300 shortlisted students receive focused coaching for competitive exams.
Calling the initiative a milestone for tribal education, Hemant said the institute would play a crucial role in enabling tribal students to succeed in highly competitive medical and engineering examinations.
The institute will be operated under a public-private partnership, with the State government collaborating with the Kota-based Motion Education for academic support and training. The first batch of 300 students includes 168 girls.
Students will not only receive high-quality coaching from expert teachers, but will also be provided completely free residential facilities, study materials, tablets, library access and digital learning resources. The objective of this scheme is to ensure equal opportunities for rural and economically weaker Scheduled Tribe students in competitive examinations.
The Chief Minister instructed the Welfare Department and the private partner to explore the possibility of starting an additional batch for meritorious students who could not clear the eligibility test.
Highlighting the Government’s education-focused initiatives, the CM said several schemes are being implemented to support poor, deprived and tribal students. He referred to the Savitribai Phule Scheme for girl students, pre- and post-matric scholarships benefiting around 30 students, and the launch of 80 Chief Minister Schools of Excellence on par with private institutions, with another 100 such schools planned.
Hemant said students can access education loans of up to Rs 15 lakh at a concessional interest rate of 4 per cent under the Guruji Students Credit Card scheme. He added that the Government has decided to set up libraries in every district with comprehensive study materials, along with e-library facilities.
Earlier, Hemant unveiled a life-size statue of JMM founder Shibu Soren on the institute’s campus and paid floral tributes. The 81-year-old former Chief Minister passed away on August 4 while undergoing treatment at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi.
