Pics: Abhijith N Kolpe 

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK) 

Mangaluru, Aug 25: Vishwa Konkani Kendra distributed scholarships worth Rs 3.5 crore to students from the Konkani community in a ceremony held at TV Raman Pai Convention Centre here on Sunday, August 25, which also marked the decennial year celebration. 

Trustee of Manipal academy of higher education, Vasanthi Ramadas Pai, inaugurated the scholarship distribution programme. 

Addressing the gathering, Vasanthi Ramadas Pai said, "It is a privilege to be part of this programme where scholarships are distributed to the students as some or the others are coming forward to help the students in their higher education. Students studying in ninth standard should be given counseling about their future studies and interest. Sometimes parents force their children to study engineering or medical, which is not their interest. This should not be done; students should be given freedom to select their field of studies.”  

Konkani philanthropist T V Mohandas Pai said, "Ten years ago I had a dream to provide education to our community students and wanted to see our community as global dominating community. We belong to a minority community. We are in a sense of fear whether our culture and language will exist or not in the future. Language can unite us. Other than scholarship distribution, we have training programme under Kshamatha, where the students can get connected to the society and build that bonding. Kshamatha is a best transformation initiative programme. In the next 10 years I wish to see 5000 youths pursue their masters PHD globally.” 

Mangaluru South MLA Vedavyas Kamath said, "The hard work and dedication put up for the last 10 years in distributing scholarships for the students is really commendable. In the last 10 years, more than Rs 21 crore is distributed to more than 22,000 students.” 

Meanwhile president of Alumni association Nirosh Kumari handed over a cheque of Rs 35 lac to Vishwa Konkani student scholarship fund. Last year Alumni association had distributed Rs 18 lac. 

President, World Konkani Centre, Basti Vaman Shenoy welcomed the gathering, Smitha Shenoy compered the event and Vineeth Shaanbag rendered the vote of thanks. 

Vishwa Konkani Student Scholarship Fund (VKSSF) envisages grant of Merit Cum Means scholarship for students having Konkani language as their mother tongue. Instituted by the Mangaluru-based World Konkani Centre in the year 2010 as envisioned by the eminent visionary and corporate leader T V Mohandas Pai, the VKSSF has since then successfully raised and distributed over 22,000 scholarships to the tune of Rs 21.40 crore. 

Vishwa Konkani Student Scholarship Fund presently has several scholarship Programmes. The flagship programme being the Engineering and MBBS Scholarships with a scholarship amount of Rs 40,000 and Rs 50,000 per year per student respectively. These rates have been increased this year from previous Rs 30,000 and Rs 40,000. VKSSF has awarded 4730 engineering and MBBS scholarships since 2010. This year too VKSSF will support the professional education quest of 589 Engineering and 53 MBBS scholars. 

VKSSF also has a study abroad scholarship for higher education abroad, with scholarship amount of Rs one Lac per year per student. Since 2010 VKSSF has awarded 120 Scholarships under this programme and 36 Scholarships will be awarded this year under this category. 

KSHAMATA is a programme under VKSSF which is a development model for all scholarship participants to accomplish with an end result of personal growth, leadership development, and a greater appreciation for the Konkani society in particular and global society in general. Since its inception, KSHAMATA academy has imparted more than 34858 man days of trainings in various formats.