The Vedanta limited announced ‘Odisha’s Young Achievers Scholarship Programme’ at a function here on Thursday. The merit-cum-means scholarship programme intends to subsidise the financial burden on the students intending to pursue graduate courses in medical, engineering and science disciplines. Under the programme, 100 scholarships would be awarded every year. Students opting for courses in medical or engineering would be awarded Rs30,000 per year for five and four years, respectively, and those for science Rs20,000 per year for three years.
The scheme opts for maintaining a gender parity by ensuring that 50 per cent of the scholarships are reserved for girls apart from 22.5 per cent for SC/ST students. Students with more than 70% (60% for SC/ST) marks in Class 12 Board examination can apply for the scholarship. Applications will be subject to the economic criteria that annual parental income of the student should not exceed Rs2.50 lakh.
Chief guest on the occasion Minister of Employment and Technical Education & Training Sanjay Dasburma said it’s a noble initiative by a corporate which would help a number of students aspiring for higher studies. Vedanta ltd CEO (Aluminium) Abhijit Pati said, “The company has been promoting and patronising quality primary education in the vicinity of its plants at Jharsuguda and lanjigarh through initiatives like Vedanta Vidyarthi Vikas Yojna and Vedanta DAV International School. For the first time we have come up with a pan-Odisha initiative to help meritorious students from economically weaker sections pursue graduate courses.”
Vedanta University Project President BK Patnaik said the scheme looks forward to promote girls’ education by reserving 50% scholarships for them. State Assembly Deputy Speaker praised the Vedanta’s initiatives for promoting education in tribal areas. Utkal University Vice-Chancellor Asoka Das also graced the event. Students can obtain details of the scholarship programme and application procedure online at the web link: “http://vedantaaluminium.com/VedantaScholarship2015”.