NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today appealed the corporate world to assist the families of martyrs of police and paramilitary forces, especially in educating their children.
"I appeal to the corporate world to join hands in assisting the families of police, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and defence personnel who laid down their lives for the nation," he said.
The Union Minister distributed about 300 scholarship cheques to the school going children of CAPFs personnel who sacrificed their lives on duty.
The scholarships were sponsored by S D Shibulal, co-founder and former CEO of Infosys under the banner of Sarojini Damodaran Foundation, which identified students in need of financial assistance during schooling.
"No help could be better than that of education or 'Vidyadan' as it is 'Mahadan' and it will help these children perform better in their lives," said an emotional Singh.
He noted it was not an obligation but everyone's duty to assist the families of the jawans who left no stone unturned for the security of the country.
As part of the programme, the Home Ministry had identified 295 children (229 children of martyrs of CRPF personnel, 33 of BSF, 11 of CISF, 3 of ITBP, 5 of SSB and 14 of Assam Rifles) from different CAPF' families and decided on the scholarships in consultation with the Foundation.
An amount of Rs 6,000 per annum will be given for students from 1st to 4th standards, Rs 9,000 per annum for 5th to 7th standard and Rs 12,000 per annum for 8th to 12th standard.
The Foundation has agreed to continue the scholarships in subsequent years and will be extended to needy children for their higher studies in due course.