From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Apr 12: President Pranab Mukherjee will be layijng the foundation stone for the Dr B R Ambedkar School of Economics, modelled on the London School of Economics in Bengaluru on April 14.

The Ambedkar School of Economics is scheduled to start functioning from 2017-18 academic year itself at the Jnana Bharathi campus of Bangalore University.

The State government has provided Rs 90 crore to develop a new campus. It will function from the temporary buildings of Bangalore University until the new campus is ready.

Guruprasad Keregodu has been selected for the prestigious Dr B R Ambedkar award for the year 2017. 

The Rs 5 lakh cash award would be presented by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at a special function to be organised on April 14 as part of the Ambedkar Jayanthi Celebrations in Bengaluru.

Announcing the decision, Social Welfare minister H Anjaneya said, Guruprasad Keregodu has been selected for the award by a jury team headed by Prof. S G Siddaramaiah, in recognition of Keregodu's service for the upliftment of Dalits and propagation of Ambedkar's thoughts and philosophy.

The State Government has made elaborate arrangements to celebrate Ambedkar Jayanthi in a big way.

A separate housing scheme for SC and STs 'Ambedkar Awas' is being launched this year. 

Dalit families having a site would be provided with financial assistance of Rs1.75 lakh in rural areas and Rs2 lakh in urban areas to build pucca houses. Those residing in huts on government lands could apply for free housing under the scheme and every applicant would get the title deed for the site and financial assistance to build a house, Anjaneya said.

The State Government is also starting 'Ambedkar Residential Schools' from this year for students from 6th standard to 10th standard. 

About 125 residential schools would be built this year under the programme. Soft loan of Rs 40,000 would be provided for about 1 lakh Dalit youths under self-employment scheme.