Devi Ahilya University offers former Agniveers a 100% tuition fee waiver across nearly 200 courses.

Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya (DAVV) here on Saturday announced 100 per cent tuition fee concession to former Agniveers who have served for four years to encourage them to pursue higher education and enhance their employability after their term of service.

The government-owned university has decided not to put any cap on the number of beneficiaries. Vice Chancellor Dr Rakesh Singhai said every Agniveer who meets the eligibility criteria will get the concession subject to their admission to nearly 200 courses in the varsity.

An Agniveer who has served the stipulated four years can apply for admission to the university. But those who have been dismissed from service or faced any kind of disciplinary action would not be considered for the fee concession.

The move comes as many Agniveers, who have undertaken duties under Agnipath scheme, would require a boost to their professional skills after their four-year stint. The soldiers, who are recruited under the Agnipath scheme, serve for a fixed tenure of four years and after their service, they have to seek alternate career options.

While elaborating on the decision, Singhai said the university wanted the ex-servicemen to get an opportunity to upgrade their skill set. “They have done their duties for the motherland. It is the moral responsibility of the state to help them get proper education and provide them employability. The Agniveers should take up their studies after the completion of their service tenure and move ahead in their career path,” he said.

Devi Ahilya University’s Executive Council has approved 100 per cent concession on tuition fees to the eligible Agniveers who seek admission to its courses.

The concession that the varsity has proposed would meet out the expenses on the tuition fee but other fees such as admission or any other fee levied by the university, if any, would be admissible as per the guidelines of the varsity, he added.

DAVV is also considering other benefits for the Agniveers. “The university may think of providing reservation for Agniveers and organise special courses for them to update their skills for better placement in private and government jobs,” Singhai said.

The university provides concession to children of defence personnel belonging to the three services. “Children of defence personnel employed today are provided with 50 per cent concession while children of martyrs and retired defence personnel get 100 per cent concession in their education,” Singhai said.

Founded by the Madhya Pradesh government in 1964, Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya is one of the premier educational institutions in the state providing higher education to thousands of students.