135 students get scholarships worth Rs 40.5 lakh

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He was speaking after awarding scholarships to 135 meritorious Engineering and MBBS Konkani students at T V Raman Pai Convention Hall on Friday. The scholarship distribution programme was organised by the Konkani Language and Cultural Foundation in association with the patrons of Vishwa Konkani Student Scholarship Fund. Citing the example of Jewish Community, he said that the reason behind the success of Jewish people in each and every field is basically the education. “Jews were able to obtain bunch of Noble prizes, they could top the field of invention owing to the significance they have given to education, which must be a guiding path to us,” he said.

Speaking about the quality of students who come out from the educational institutions, he called it as half baked situation, wherein most of the students lack knowledge.
“It is a disaster to see only 20 per cent of the working force who are good at work, while another 20 per cent population is average and the rest 60 per cent are pathetic,” he claimed and suggested the students to follow their own vision rather than chasing the vision of parents or teachers.

World Konkani Centre President and Founder Basti Vaman Shenoy informed that August 20 is celebrated as Konkani Manyata Divas to commemorate the inclusion of Konkani language in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution. “It is a proud day for Konkani speaking people and so the scholarships are distributed to Konkani students on the auspicious day with an objective to empower Konkani youth,” he said.

The meritorious Konkani speaking students from poor economical background were given the scholarships worth Rs 40.5 lakh. Students from Karnataka, Goa, Maharshtra and Kerala states were endowed with the grant. The first person to pass UPSC exams with Konkani as a subject Chaya Burdekar was felicitated during the occasion.

Konkani Language and Cultural Foundation Chariman Dr P Dayanand Pai presided over the function. Mangalore Diocese Vicar General Rev Fr Denis Moras Prabhu and Canara High School Association Honarary Secretary M Annappa Pai were the guests of honour.