Mangalore: Scholarship for 1,300 Konkani students

The Hindu

Mangalore, 23 Aug 2012: More than 1,300 students from economically backward families from Konkani communities will get scholarships worth Rs. 2 crore at a function to be held on August 25 in Mangalore.

 

Scheme

The scholarship scheme was launched in 2010.

 

The scholarships are being given by the Vishwa Konkani Student Scholarship Fund established by World Konkani Centre here.

 

A press release said 480 engineering and MBBS students will get the scholarship in a function to be attended by Oscar Fernandes, MP and senior Congress leader.

 

For poor students

Educational scholarship is given to economically backward students for whom Konkani is the mother-tongue.

 

Instituted in 2010 as envisioned by T.V. Mohandas Pai, former Member of Board of Directors, Infosys, it is modelled on collect and distribute system, raised and distributed Rs. 50 lakh to 162 students on the first year.

 

In 2011 the amount distributed went up to Rs. 1 crore to cover 547 students.

 

The press release said philanthropists such as Mr. Pai, T. Ranjan Pai, K.V. Kamath, Ramadas Kamath U., Jagannath Shenoi, P. Dayanand Pai, Ronald Colaco, Grace Pinto, A. Annappa S. Kamath, Rohan Monteiro, Pradeep G. Pai have joined hands.

 

Support

 

The release said the fund has come up with a new scheme to support educational aspirations of PUC and degree students with an outlay of Rs. 40 lakh this year.

 

As many as 550 pre-university and degree students from communities such as Sharvi and Kudubi of the State have been selected under this scheme.

 

Each student will receive Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 5,000 for I PU and 1 year of their graduation this year.

 

Students from Kerala

In addition, 100 students from Kerala pursuing graduation have been selected for the scholarships.

 

Programme

To support the aspirations of Konkani students who want to pursue their advanced education in reputed universities abroad, the fund has instituted “Study Abroad Scholarship Programme,” under which 10 students will get Rs. 1 lakh each this year, the release added.