This is a state-wide initiative, with social service organisations and individuals joining hands to offer financial support to deserving students.

A scholarship distribution programme was held at Infosys campus on Sunday for meritorious students under the aegis of Prerana - Infosys, Mangalore, Vidya Poshak, Dharwad, Dhrithi Foundation, Mangalore, Yakshagana Kalaranga, Udupi and Bevinje Shridhara Kakkilaya Foundation, Kasargod. Mangalore City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh was the chief guest on the occasion.

A total of 510 students, including those pursuing professional courses, from Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Kasaragod, and Uttara Kannada district, were supported to the tune of Rs 18,50,294. Out of this, Rs 15,71,704 was contributed by Prerana and the remaining funds were contributed by other donors and Vidya Poshak, Dharwad.

Dr Srinivas Kakkilaya from Dhrithi Foundation welcomed the gathering. Kuldeep Kulkarni from Vidya Poshak shared details about the Pratibha Poshak initiative. Karthik Hedge from Vidya Poshak read out the oath to the students.

Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh appreciated the organisations that had joined hands for the noble cause. He called upon the students to   make use of the scholarship and work hard to achieve success in life.

Venkatesh, a beneficiary of the programme and now placed with a reputed organisation, and Divyashree, another beneficiary who is now pursuing MSc in Mathematics, thanked the sponsoring organisations and called upon the students to focus on their education and achieve their dreams.

The programme also had an interactive session by Bhaskar Chickananjundappa from i-POINT Consulting on personality development.

This is the fifth year that Prerana, Vidya Poshak, Dhrithi Foundation, Yakshagana Kalaranga, Bevinje Shridhara Kakkilaya Foundation are extending support to meritorious students of Dakshina Kannada district.