BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 28th July 2025: On the 10th death anniversary of Dr. Suniti Solomon, India’s pioneering HIV physician and founder of YRGCARE, the YR Gaitonde Medical Educational and Research Foundation (YRGMERF) has announced a transformative education initiative—the Suniti Scholars Program. Aimed at restoring dignity and opportunity to young women affected by HIV in Northeast India, the program will launch in the 2025-26 academic year.
The pilot program will support 86 young women and transwomen, aged 25 or younger, from the eight northeastern states—Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura. Each selected scholar will receive ₹1 lakh annually to cover tuition, books, and living expenses, along with a one-time digital learning grant of ₹50,000. Scholars will also benefit from personalized mentorship and mental health support.
The number 86 reflects the age Dr. Solomon would have turned in 2025. “Dr. Suniti believed education is the most powerful weapon against stigma and inequality. This initiative is a tribute to her unwavering faith in women’s potential,” said Dr. Sunil Suhas Solomon, Chairperson of YRGMERF.
Applications will be open from August 15 to 25, 2025, with final results announced on October 14, Dr. Solomon’s birth anniversary. Scholarships will be disbursed on December 1—World AIDS Day.
The selection will be overseen by an independent committee, separate from YRGMERF, with confidential eligibility checks through ART centres and partner NGOs. Applicants must have completed Class XII or an undergraduate degree and must submit a 500-word personal statement demonstrating financial need and educational aspirations.
YRGMERF has issued a call to government bodies, academic institutions, civil society, and the media to join the initiative by spreading awareness, offering guidance, and partnering to expand its reach. “This is not just a scholarship program—it’s a movement for hope and equality,” a YRGMERF spokesperson said.
