Bengaluru, May 16 -- Azim Premji Foundation has committed to giving Rs.2,250 crore over three years to help more girls complete their college education, making it the country's largest direct benefit transfer scheme by a not-for-profit private entity. Under the initiative, a girl who has completed her standard X and XII from a government school can apply for the Azim Premji scholarship. Billionaire and philanthropist Azim Premji's eponymous foundation, Azim Premji Foundation, would give Rs.30,000 a year to up to 250,000 girl students. This translates to Rs.750 crore a year, which, over a three-year degree program, would total Rs.2,250 crore. "The basic purpose of this is to allow girl children to complete their higher education," said Anurag Behar, chief executive officer of Azim Premji Foundation. "If a girl has completed 10th and 12th from a government school and is admitted to a bona fide college, the child is eligible to get Rs.30,000 every year for the duration of her course." Beginning in September, a girl who starts college and has received the Azim Premji scholarship will receive Rs.90,000 over a three-year degree program. According to the Economic Survey 2024-25, the country's education system has about 15 lakh schools and nearly 25 crore students. Nearly half of the students are in government schools. Primary schools have a 93% gross enrolment ratio, which falls to 77.4% by the time a student enters standard VI. Only 56.2% of children complete 12th-standard schooling, and less than a third pursue college. Fewer girls than boys enrol in colleges, and financial constraints are one of the primary reasons for this discrepancy among the poor. "India has made enormous progress over the years. The enrolment ratio for boys and girls is almost equal at the primary school level. But, for many economically disadvantaged groups, higher education is difficult. And it is often a girl child who has to make sacrifices," said Behar....