Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Aug 25: Vishwa Konkani Student Scholarship Fund (VKSSF) Chairman Ramdas Kamath U stated that the scholarships given is not a charity but an encouragement given to scholars who have earned it by their hard work. To give a new dimension these students will be called as scholars and not as beneficiaries because these scholars have shown to the society their talent by excelling in studies. Addressing a press conference soon after the distribution of scholarships he said “scholarship distribution is a first step and not a program by itself. It is only a part of the holistic approach. We are happy that the number of scholars benefitted by this is increasing every year. By 2020 VKSSF has set a goal to distribute scholarships to more than 25,000 scholars”. However, he said that there is no target of the amount of scholarship that will be distributed for these students in that year.
He also said that the organization will be in constant touch with scholars and would continue to give encouragement and necessary inputs to help them in their efforts to excel in whatever they do. “These students will be provided training in layers and we already have training programme development modules. Ultimately whichever field these students would like to go we will help them accomplish that dream and help them become superior citizens of this land”, he declared.
He said as a second step the scholars especially those from smaller cities will be helped to improve their communication skills and overcome the inferiority complex they face. As a third step the scholars will be helped to solve the conflict they might be facing when they are in the 3rd of 4th year with regard to the field they might have to choose. He said the Career Development Programme is the new initiative undertaken to provide information to scholars who want to go for higher studies. These students will be given exposure to higher studies in a batch of 40 so as to provide individual attention to every scholar.
Ramdas Kamath said that those scholars who want to go for entrepreneurship would be given a ground reality course and as a first step in this direction a business plan development contest will be held. “We want to take their unadulterated views and initiate proper scientific programmes to develop entrepreneur development skills”, he stressed.
He expressed happiness that lots of professionals are coming forward to volunteer as mentors for these scholars. The students are free to take any of these volunteers as mentors and the scholar will be in touch with the mentor personally. He said that these students are able to overcome their conflicts by consulting their mentors.
Ramdas Kamath also stated that web based application will be started shortly to enable students to give and access information. All these measures, he said would help in the holistic development of the students. In order to help the scholars they would keep a tab on information about authentic and current vacancies available in various organizations.
Commenting on the Rs. 5 crores which the state government has promised for the institute, Ramdas Kamath said the government has so far released only Rs 1.5 croes which has been utilized for digitalization of manuscripts, development of content matter, for updating the library, preparing a documentary on Kudubi tribe and such other programmes . He said the remaining allocation can be done only if through proper budget allocation.
Ramdas Kamath pointed out that out thatas a new initiative Rs. 50 lakhs outlay is earmarked for providing VKSSF to PUC and Degree students. He said the initiative is in accordance with the announcement made in the last year’s scholarship award ceremony. The new scholarship distribution for PUC and degree students will be held next month.
VKSSF has also helped two students to study in Germany and Australia by providing a scholarship of Rs. 1 lakh each under the programme of study abroad scholarship programme.
T V Mohandas Pai, Pradeep Pai and Basti Vaman Shenoy were present at the press conference.