Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Mangalore, May 30: Quite often we see poor students, though they may be brilliant in studies, deprived of opportunities to realize their dreams due to paucity of funds. Several students who are capable of becoming doctors or engineers are forced to opt for lesser courses due to lack of support and financial difficulties.
But now, an NRI entrepreneur from UAE has stepped in to reach out to such Mangalorean Catholic students, in a way that perhaps no one in the past has ever done for the community. This highly visionary and magnanimous NRI, who has requested to remain anonymous, is investing a Rs 25 crore Educare Fund, which will be managed by a team of trustees and well-wishers, with the blessing and good wishes from Bishop of Mangalore Dr Aloysius D'Souza.
Canara Organisation for Development and Peace (CODP - a non-governmental organization voluntary agency operating in the coastal Karnataka districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi and Kasargod in Kerala), an institute under Mangalore diocese which has rendered yeoman service to the poor and needy from past several years will involve in the execution of this dream project which is expected to help thousands of poor students in the coming years.
The Educare Trust will disburse the reserved amount over a period of five years and then on the scheme will continue by repayment of “interest-free loans” from the students back to the Educare Trust.
This scheme by the NRI family, in collaboration with CODP, is a compulsorily refundable interest-free loan which is to be repaid within one to two years after completion of studies. The selection process of deserving students will be completly on merit basis, and each and every deserving student will be benifited. The selection process will comprise of a team of CODP and Educare Trust members.
Fr Onil Dsouza
Speaking to Daijiworld, Fr Onil D’Souza, director of CODP said, "Based on the above scheme, every year around 400 to 600 deserving students of Mangalore and Udupi diocese will be getting the benefits to pursue their higher education in the field of medicine, engineering, paramedical, MBA, MCA, MA, LLM, journalism, BEd, BSc nursing, undergraduation (BA, BCom, BSc, BCA, BBM, LLB) diploma in polytechnic, ITI etc every year.”
Fr Onil further said, “Merit students from poor families whose income is below Rs 2 lac per annum can apply for this facility. Meanwhile, priority will be given to orphans and to those students whose families are affected by tragedies and life-threatening diseases.
"Once the applications are received, interview of the students who have applied will be taken in order to make sure that they are deserving candidates. The final list of students will be forwarded to Educare Trust which will then disburse the funds to the students," added Fr Onil.
Applications are available with parish priests or with CODP.
Last date to submit the application is June 30, 2013 for degree students and July 31, 2013 for other courses.
The application for Educare interest-free loan can also be downloaded from CODP website: www.codpindia.com
or CLICK HERE to download application
Applications are to be sent to:
CODP (Canara Organization for Development and Peace)
Kadri Hills, Nanthoor,
Bejai Post,
Mangalore - 575004
Phone : (0824) 2221580, 2222004,
Fax : 2222004
Email : codpindia@gmail.com