Meritorious girl students feted with Gargi and Padmakshi awards

Education Minister Vasudev Devnani gave away Gargi awards to girls who scored 75% and above marks in class 10 and 12 exam of Rajasthan Board in 2017.

For the first time, eight Padmakshi awards were also conferred on girls of classes 8, 10 and 12 who scored highest marks in the district in board exams. Padmakshi awardees include students from all categories including SC, ST, minorities, and OBC besides general category. Under Padmakshi awards meritorious students of class 8 are given a cheque of Rs 40,000; class 10 students Rs 75,000; and class 12 students Rs 1 lakh.

The BJP government in 2017 decided to change the name of the The Indira Priyadarshini Puruskar Yojana to Padmakshi Puruskar Yojana. Padmakshi, meaning a woman with lotuslike eyes, is another name for Goddess Saraswati, the deity of wisdom and knowledge.

On the basis of merit 1071 girl students of class 10, and 1314 students of class 12 were chosen for the award.

In addition, nine awards were also given to girls under Chief Minister’s Humari Beti programme. Recipients of the award are provided scholarship for coaching and higher studies.

“An increase in number of Gargi award winners — from 44,000 in 2015 to 91,000 in 2016, and now more than 1.26 lakh — indicates that there is qualitative improvement in educational standards in the state,” said Devnani.

AJMER: