Deokaran Bursary Scheme paves way for indigent learners

The Babita Deokaran Bursary Scheme, established in Durban, aims to assist financially disadvantaged students after they complete their matriculation. The program will initially offer funding for students pursuing Medicine and Life Sciences at a prestigious university in India. The launch of this initiative coincides with the fifth anniversary of Deokaran's tragic murder, which occurred when she exposed corruption at Tembisa Hospital near Johannesburg.

Seelan Archary, a member of the Mount Edgecombe Arts and Culture Council, explained the motivation behind the bursary scheme. "The idea was to do something meaningful, beyond just commemorating Babita Deokaran and her life, and provide financial assistance to students who could further their education and improve their circumstances."

The scheme was made possible through the generous support of Pradeep Ramlal, a benefactor based in South Africa, who is working alongside benefactors in India to fund deserving students' education at the Kalinga Institute for Sciences, Medical, and Social Sciences. This institute offers a diverse range of disciplines for students to choose from.