January 31, 2002

    The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has decided to set up Dr. Ambedkar Chair at Vikram University at Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. The focus of the study of the new Chair under the subject "Ambedkarism And Social Change", would be the impact of new economic policy on the weaker sections. The Ambedkar chair at Ujjain will be inaugurated by the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Satyanarayan Jatiya on February 4, 2002. With this, the number of Dr. Ambedkar Chairs will go upto ten. The scheme to set up Dr. Ambedkar chairs was started in 1993 with a corpus of Rs. 2 crore which was subsequently raised to Rs.10 crore. The other universities/institutions having Dr. Ambedkar Chair include Jawaharlal Nehru University, Madras University, Calcutta University and Nagpur University.

    The broad objective of the scheme is to provide well equipped centres of learning with facilities to undertake studies and research by intellectuals, academicians and students concerning the socio-economic and cultural life of the marginalised and other weaker sections of society. The purpose of such studies is to develop appropriate methodologies to translate Baba Saheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s ideas and thoughts into practical propositions and policy instruments to attain social justice.

    The Ambedkar Foundation provides ten lakh rupees per year to each chair for undertaking the studies. In addition it meets the funding requirements of a Research Officer and ministerial staff.