JOIN USVishwa Konkani Students Scholarship Fund established by the World Konkani Centre distributed 'merit cum means scholarships' worth Rs two crore to 1,300 students belonging to Konkani communities at T V Raman Pai Convention Hall in Mangalore on Saturday.
Distributing the scholarships, Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar said that many students stop pursuing their education due to financial constraints. With scholarships, their aspirations get boosted. The Karnataka Government has allotted Rs 5 crore, out of which Rs 1.5 crores has been released to World Konkani Centre for various programmes, said the CM.
"Education is the means of empowerment. It will make you competent to live in any part of the world," said Manipal Universal Learning Chairman T V Mohandas Pai.
Pai advised students to pursue higher studies. "There is an aspiration deficit in our country. There is a need to boost ones aspirations," he said and asked students to develop problem-solving attitude.
"There is information all over. However, one should learn to use this information to solve problems. Develop personality, groom yourselves, dress well, speak well, be presentable and make an impact," he advised.
Pai stressed on speaking in one’s mother tongue. "Learn English but do not forget Konkani. Language plays an important role in carrying forward ones tradition and culture," he said and added that in the next 20 years, the Konkani community can be a globalised community. With the world wide web, the different barriers between nations is decreasing. With social networking sites, the world is connected as one country virtually, he said.
Speaking on the occasion, MP Oscar Fernandes called upon the Konkanis to strive hard to bring Konkani community to the forefront.
Presiding over the programme, WKC President Basti Vaman Shenoy called upon the Konkanis to have integrity. “Make Konkani community the strongest," he said.
As many as 1300 students of which 480 engineering and MBBS students were awarded scholarships. This year scholarship of Rs 50 lakh was also distributed to 550 PU and Degree students from Kharvi and Kudubi communities. Around 100 Konkani speaking degree students from Kerala state have also been selected for the scholarship.
VKSSF has also instituted a study abroad scholarship programme. Around 10 students will be awarded Rs 1 lakh under this programme.
‘Kshamata’
Addressing a press meet after the scholarship distribution programme, Infosys Senior Vice President Ramadas Kamath U informed that WKC has introduced a series of training programmes for the benefit of scholarship beneficiaries and the Konkani youth.
WKC is aiming towards an holistic development approach. Different programmes such as 'Beneficiary orientation and training programme' (BOTP), 'Beneficiary Language Skills Improvement Programme (BLSIP),' General Management and Communication Skills Programme (GMCS),''Graduates Employability Skills Development Programmes (GRADES) are being organised.
“We are also planning to introduce 'Career development programmes,' 'Entrepreneurial development programme,' and 'Information on Higher Studies programme,” he said and added that there are plans to develop a web-based programme that will help students.
"We also plan to share information about the job content and the vacancies available in different sectors," he said.