Photo Caption – Azim Premji Foundation pledges ₹2,000 crore for initiative, government adds ₹200 crore support
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inaugurated the Deepika Higher Education Scholarship for female students of Karnataka, in collaboration with the Department of Higher Education and the Azim Premji Foundation. The launch event was held at the Dr. Babu Rajendra Prasad International Convention Centre, Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra, Hebbal. Addressing the gathering, Siddaramaiah lauded Padma Vibhushan awardee and IT stalwart Azim Premji for his continued commitment to education and nation-building. Through the Azim Premji Foundation, Shri Premji has already transformed the lives of lakhs of children by ensuring access to quality education. With the ‘Deepika’ Scholarship, he has once again lived up to Gandhiji’s principle of trusteeship, dedicating his wealth for society’s welfare, he said.
The program will see the Azim Premji Foundation contribute ₹2,000 crore over the next seven years, while the state government has pledged an additional ₹200 crore. The scheme aims to remove financial barriers for girls in higher education, particularly those from rural and economically weaker backgrounds. Highlighting the significance of the initiative, the Chief Minister said, Educating girls uplifts families, strengthens society, and builds a stronger state. Yet many parents hesitate to invest in their daughters’ education due to financial constraints. The ‘Deepika’ Scholarship will empower these young women to pursue higher studies and achieve their dreams. He added that the scholarship would help improve Karnataka’s Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education and urged beneficiaries to use the support for skill-building and future growth. Siddaramaiah also drew attention to persistent gender bias, saying that women’s empowerment had long been suppressed under regressive ideologies.