Leaders of Harijan community, who are underprivileged socially and economically, yesterday called upon the education ministry to introduce scholarships for the community's students from class VI to VIII to prevent drop-outs after primarylevel.

They were speaking at a reception ceremony for the community's meritorious students, marking International Literacy Day, in the city's Jatiya Press Club auditorium.

Bangladesh Harijan Oikya Parishad and FAIR, a local non-government organisation, in association with Manusher Jonno Foundation, organised the ceremony.

Speaking at the programme, Rashed Khan Menon, chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education Ministry, said he would recommend the education ministry to initiate a quota system for the community's students at educational institutions.

The parishad's Educational Affairs Secretary General Sajal Kumar Roy said, “We start our cleaning work early at dawn but get only Tk 800 to 1,200 as wage.

“With that money, it is quite impossible to bear our children's educational expenses."

The parishad and FAIR provided financial assistance to 200 of the community's students, out of 287 applicants.

Among them, 91 students of secondary level were provided Tk 5,000, 92 students of higher secondary level with Tk 6,000 while 17 students in honours level with Tk 7,000 each respectively.

A total of 80 meritorious students of Secondary School Certificate and Higher Secondary Certificate examinations of 2011 were handed over crests.

Hoping to see the quota system before the next educational year, lawmaker Menon asked the parishad to formally apply to the standing committee through a letter so that he could make the recommendation.

FAIR Director Dewan Akhtaruzzaman, Loknath Brahmachari Ashram and Mandir General Secretary Sree Bishnupad Bhoumik and the parishad Secretary General Nirmal Chandra Das addressed the programme, chaired by the parishad President Krishna Lal.