Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala  :

The Sarojini Damodaran Foundation (SDF) has called for scholarship applications in Kerala from economically backward students, who passed the SSLC examination this year.

The SDF by Patron Kumari Shibulal, Patron and S D Shibulal, co-founder, Infosys, invited applications for its Vidyadhan scholarship program from families with an annual income of less than Rs 2 lakh.

Students should have passed their SSLC examination this year with A+ grades. Those eligible can log into www.vidyadhan.org and apply online from May 1, 2016 to May 31, 2016.

The scholarship covers XI and XII and any higher specialisation of the students’ choice, provided they continue to secure high grades.

The Vidyadhan platform was created under the aegis of the SDF in 2014. “Vidhyadhan is a unique ‘direct sponsorship model’ created to continue to support the cause of higher education and invite external sponsors who wish to contribute to a noble cause. The platform is unique as it brings sponsors and scholars under a single platform. Under the external sponsorship model, funds are transferred directly to the student and complete transparency is maintained,” a release said here.

Those interested to sponsor through Vidyadhan can log into www.vidhadhan.org.

Kumari Shibulal said: “With each passing year, our endeavour is to provide every child hailing from an underprivileged background with the right to higher education. I believe education is a passport to transform lives. We encourage all eligible students across the State to apply. I would also like to invite external individuals to join the Vidyadhan platform and share the joy of educating a child with us.”

The Sarojini Damodaran Foundation has supported about 1,600 students and has given about 4,200 scholarships. It has an alumni of about 17 doctors, 153 engineers, 48 nurses and many more.

These students now hold established jobs and some of them have decided to pay-back by sponsoring other students. Currently there are 970 children (900 sponsored by the Foundation and 70 students by external sponsors).

The Patrons of the Foundation expect it to scale up to 10,000 students and 1,00,000 scholarships over the next seven to ten years. The program is operational in Kerala and Karnataka.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Express Features / May 05th, 2016