New Delhi: Punjab’s Jaspreet Kaur has now been offered a chance at a full scholarship by Ashoka University after ThePrint published a story on 15 August about the Dalit who topped the Punjab School Education Board’s Class XII exams. Earlier, she was given a reward of Rs 1 lakh by a New York-based literary organisation called Raag.
Three days after ThePrint’s report, in an official email to ThePrint, Ashoka University’s Assistant Director, Outreach, said, “Ashoka University would like to help her knowing we have a need-based financial aid — her education could be funded up to 100%.”
A Dalit barber’s daughter in Punjab’s Mansa district, Jaspreet made headlines when the Punjab Board declared its results on 22 July and she secured 99.5 per cent. BJP MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal even made a video call to Jaspreet after learning of her result. Other individuals, such as professors and lawyers, have also been reaching out to the humanities student.
ThePrint had published a story on how Jaspreet’s real struggle will start at Delhi University, where she has applied, given her lack of social and cultural capital and the elitism she is likely to face.
Speaking to ThePrint about this new development, Jaspreet said, “I am happy that people are getting inspired by my story and universities are offering me courses. However, my family and I have no idea about Ashoka University.”
Ashoka’s Assistant Director (Admissions Office) Harpreet Singh said, “Once the university is able to contact her, she will be counselled. Further, she has to appear for a test. If she passes the test, she will be eligible for the scholarship. The university will take care of her hostel fees and other financial aid.”
Subscribe to our channels on YouTube & Telegram
News media is in a crisis & only you can fix it
You are reading this because you value good, intelligent and objective journalism. We thank you for your time and your trust.
You also know that the news media is facing an unprecedented crisis. It is likely that you are also hearing of the brutal layoffs and pay-cuts hitting the industry. There are many reasons why the media’s economics is broken. But a big one is that good people are not yet paying enough for good journalism.
We have a newsroom filled with talented young reporters. We also have the country’s most robust editing and fact-checking team, finest news photographers and video professionals. We are building India’s most ambitious and energetic news platform. And we aren’t even three yet.
At ThePrint, we invest in quality journalists. We pay them fairly and on time even in this difficult period. As you may have noticed, we do not flinch from spending whatever it takes to make sure our reporters reach where the story is. Our stellar coronavirus coverage is a good example. You can check some of it here.
This comes with a sizable cost. For us to continue bringing quality journalism, we need readers like you to pay for it. Because the advertising market is broken too.
If you think we deserve your support, do join us in this endeavour to strengthen fair, free, courageous, and questioning journalism, please click on the link below. Your support will define our journalism, and ThePrint’s future. It will take just a few seconds of your time.