A management student’s online petition has prompted women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi to seek free education for children of army personnel who died in the Uri attack.
In a letter referring to the online petition on change.org, Gandhi has asked education minister Prakash Javadekar to ensure that these children do not have to pay for their education.
There is already a 5% quota for children of defence personnel, who died in service, in admissions.
“I received a petition signed by over 50,000 citizens on http://www.change.org @Change on behalf of the children of #Uri Martyrs… Our soldiers have made supreme sacrifices. Taking care of the cost of educating their children will be a small part of our gratitude,” Gandhi tweeted.
Over 70,000 people have signed the petition “Free education for children of India’s martyrs” started by Maryada Prasad, a management student from Symbiosis Pune, on September 25.
“I wanted to do something for the families of the soldiers who gave up their lives to keep us safe. I started a petition on Change.org and I’m really happy to have received so much support,” Prasad said.
The management student said that he is hopeful that the education minister will act on his petition soon. “The least that we can do for the martyrs of India is ensure that their children are taken care of,” he added.
{{/usCountry}}The management student said that he is hopeful that the education minister will act on his petition soon. “The least that we can do for the martyrs of India is ensure that their children are taken care of,” he added.
{{/usCountry}}This is the second instance where Gandhi has backed an online petition. She had earlier put her weight behind a petition by a single mother who wanted to put an end to the rule that mandated passport applicants to give their father’s name. An external affairs ministry panel had later supported the change.