Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SB/ANK)

Mangaluru, Aug 20: Merit-cum-means scholarships worth Rs 3.5 crore under the Vishwa Konkani Student Scholarship Fund, established by World Konkani Centre, Mangaluru were distributed to students from Konkani communities in a ceremony held at TV Raman Pai Convention Centre here on Sunday August 20.

The programme was presided over by eminent philanthropist and entrepreneur Dr P Dayananda Pai. Harish Bhat, brand custodian, Tata Sons and chairman, Tata Global Beverages Ltd and Tata Coffee Ltd, handed over the first scholarship of the year.

T V Mohandas Pai, chairman, Manipal Global Education, who is also the principal patron of the scholarship programme Basti Vaman Shenoy, president, World Konkani Centre and eminent personalities Praveen P Kadle, CEO, Tata Capital Pvt Ltd, Ullas Kamath, joint MD, Jyothy Laboratories Ltd, M Jagannath Shenoi, managing partner, Ganesh Beedies, Mysuru, V Leeladhar, former deputy governor of RBI, Sundeep Bambolkar, joint MD, Indoco Remedies, CA G Nandagopal Shenoy, Devagiri Tea and Products and Dr P D Shenoy, IAS, former chief labour commissioner were present on the dais.

Addressing the scholarship beneficiaries, Harish Bhat said, "You are the future of our community. With this scholarship your responsibility towards your community has increased. You have to strive hard to bring fame for your family and for Konkani community. Nothing is impossible in life. You should put your mind to achieving your ambition.

"We all know about Manjeshwara Govinda Pai. He put our community in world's literary map. With hard work, dedication and self-discipline, he learned more then twenty-five languages. He is the best example to our students on how to focus on achieving one's ambitions.

"There are three major things you have to do to achieve your goal without fail. First, you should be ambitious. Secondly, you should recognize your strengths. Finally, you should keep in mind that there is no short cut to achieve goals and fulfill your ambitions. Only hard work only will give you the desired result," Harish Bhat said.

Praveen Kadle said, "I am glad to note that World Konkani Centre is doing great work for the betterment of Konkani language and community. Our mother tongue unites us all together without religious or regional boundaries. We know that nowadays English is everywhere and it is ruling the world. Some people say it is a threat to regional languages. But except in business, we speak our mother tongue in our houses and with our community members, so there is no threat to our Konkani language. We have to think in both ways - that our children get good education, and at same time we have to make sure that they do not forget their mother tongue."

In his keynote address, T V Mohandas Pai said, "Today the dignitaries who are sharing the dais are highly educated and wealthy members of our Konkani community. This itself is an inspiration to the students gathered here. Today they have become the most respectful persons in society because of their passion, hard work and dedication. We have to learn a lot of them.

"The Konkani community is famous for education and service. Everyone should keep in mind that we must become a community that is recognized by the world. We must conquer and dominate the world with our achievements. Being a rich person is not at all a bad thing. But being a poor is always bad. If we become rich with a rich heart we can abolish poverty of our community and our society. Education is the main tool to become legally rich in society. With education we can climb great heights and make our community proud. So parents should think about their children's higher studies. They should encourage their children to pursue higher studies provided by world class universities and educational institutions," he said.

Ullas Kamath said, "Without education we cannot achieve anything in today's professional world. So everyone is focusing on education. Every community is pushing their children to pursue higher education. Keeping this in mind, Vishwa Konkani Kendra is supporting Konkani community students by distributing scholarships. I appreciate the work and congratulate the students who are eligible for scholarships. This will help them achieve their goals."

Basti Vaman Shenoy, said, "I am thankful to the philanthropists helped in realizing the dream of providing scholarships of such a huge amount. They all are from our Konkani community and they have shown their sense of responsibility and love for their community. From past many years we are organizing this programme and getting huge response every year. Our students are our future. They are the successors of our community. So we have to make them strong and see that they are well-established. Once again, I thank all the supporters and the students who have gathered here."

VKSSF scholarships were awarded to 592 engineering and 53 MBBS aspirants to support their professional education. Also, 31 scholarships worth Rs 1 lac per student were provided to those who wish to study abroad.

Pradeep G Pai, secretary of VKSSF welcomed the gathering. Venkatesh N Baliga compered the programme.

Scholarships to help Kharvi community to come to mainstream - Ramdas Kamath

In a press meet held after the programme, Ramdas Kamath, chairman of Vishwa Konkani Student Scholarship Fund said that the scholarships were awarded to students under eight different categories, namely engineering, medical, degree, PUC and for studies abroad. "We are supporting the Kharvi community in Udupi by giving separate scholarships for students who are socio-economically backward. We need to make way for them to enter into the mainstream," he said.

"Students here are very bright and secure more than 90% in exams, but unfortunately they do not get enough exposure. When they face job interviews they lack certain skills for which the education system needs to be blamed. Finishing school needs to be improved where curriculum is introduced to improve their leadership qualities.

"We even have leadership training wherein some experts and retired scholars mentor the students by clearing their doubts related to education. Those who have participated in the programme have gone for higher studies abroad, with a placement rate of 100 percent. A total of 31 scholarships were awarded under the study abroad scholarship category this year. Mainly the management and engineering students go abroad for higher studies. We are also planning to take up IAS coaching from October," he informed.

VKSSF presently has several scholarship programmes, the flagship programme being the engineering and MBBS scholarship programme with a scholarship amount of Rs 30,000 and Rs 40,000 per year per student respectively. VKSFF has awarded 3,356 engineering and MBBS scholarships since 2010. This year too VKSSF scholarships were awarded to 592 engineering and 53 MBBS aspirants to support their professional education.

VKSFF also has a study abroad scholarship for higher education abroad with scholarship amount of Rs 1 lac per year per student. Since 2010 VKSSF has awarded 39 scholarships under this program and 31 scholarships will be awarded this year under this category.

KSHAMATA

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. In past seven years KSHAMATA academy has imparted more than 20000 mandays of training in various formats.

President of World Konkani Centre Basti Vaman Shenoy, vice-president of World Konkani Center Venkatesh Baliga and others were present.