Agartala, Oct 02: Assam Rifles has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Axis Bank and National Integrity and Educational Development Organisation (NIEDO) for project DEEPAK.

The project aims to support the underprivileged but meritorious students of Tripura to prepare for various competitive entrance examinations.

The MoU signing ceremony was held at 21 sector Assam Rifles headquarters in Agartala in presence of Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Monday.

The Chief Minister lauded the initiative of the Assam Rifles and emphasized the need to focus on imparting quality education.

He said, Education is the key indicator of the progress of a nation as well as a state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been making continuous efforts to provide quality education to the most marginalized areas of the country and the Project DEEPAK reflects the same vision.

The project will enable the selected students to prepare for various competitive examinations with coaching.

"I am very glad that Assam Rifles is following PM Modi's lead when he emphasized that the development of the country is not possible without the Northeast. Headquarters of the 21st sector of Assam Rifles, situated in Teliamura, provides free coaching and accommodation to 30 students to impart quality education. Students will be selected through an exam in October 2023, and the meritorious students from economically weak backgrounds will be chosen for this scheme," the Chief Minister said.

The 21 sector Assam Rifles will provide accommodation to the selected students in Teliamura under Khowai district.

The project additionally has the capacity to employ a certain number of marginalized locals in administrative duties in the centre.

Major General Vinod Kumar Nambiar, YSM, SM, Brigadier Vikram Guleria, SM**, Dr. R. Shrivastava, CEO NIEDO, and Abhejit Agarwal among others were present.