Bangalore: A pleasant surprise was in store
on Thursday for a young cattle-grazer and a girl who did well in the
pre-university examination in Karnataka but were not in a
position to pursue studies because of poverty.
None other than Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa got in touch
with them. He told them through top district officials to
pursue their studies as much as they wished and that their
educational expenses would be borne by the government.
"Pursue studies as much as you want. We will take care of
your educational expenses," he told them.
As soon as Yeddyurappa read media reports about the plight
of these two students, he called up the Deputy Commissioners
of the respective districts and told them to get in touch with
their families and make the offer, which was accepted by them.
Cattle-grazer Nagendra in Haveri district passed in first
class but his parents had no means to send him for higher
studies. Similarly, M Shilpa Kala of Tumkur secured third rank
in the arts stream. Her parents, who were bonded labourers
till five years ago and work as "coolies" now, wanted to
marry her off but she wanted to do IAS.
"I told them (the parents through Deputy Commissioner) to
allow her pursue studies and marriage can happen later. We
will bear her expenses," Yeddyurappa said at a function here,
where an e-payment system was launched for commercial
taxpayers in the State.
He said poverty should not be a hurdle for them to pursue
higher studies and secure a bright future.
Yeddyurappa urged senior bankers who attended the function
to "adopt three to four bright, poor students (and sponsor
their education) annually (by each bank)."
He said banks must provide educational loans to talented,
bright students from the poor sections of society without
conditions and the state government would pay interest on
behalf of them.
PTI
