COVID-crisis scholarships – The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the society and communities across the world. The pandemic has also resulted in a slowing economy and job losses across the sectors. With millions of families in India suffering from either loss of their family members or loss of their employment, the drop-out risk for school and college-going children from such COVID affected families has increased significantly.
As per the government data, close to 5 lakh people have lost their lives. Also, it is estimated that millions of people have lost their jobs during the pandemic. Given the financial challenges the pandemic has posed for students, many government agencies and corporates have come up with scholarship programmes to support COVID affected students in continuing their education.
This article gives a detailed overview of such COVID-crisis scholarships so that you can explore the right opportunities for you and avail the financial assistance for your education.
COVID-Crisis Scholarships – Government-funded
The central government and different state governments have introduced a number of schemes for the welfare of students who were impacted due to COVID-19 pandemic. Below are the details of a few scholarships offered by different government entities.
PM-CARES for Children Scheme 2021
Starting with the government’s measures in the light of COVID-19 scholarships, the Central Government announced that all children who have lost both parents or guardians due to coronavirus would be supported under the ‘PM-CARES for Children’ scheme. Within the framework of this scholarship scheme, the government would grant such children a monthly stipend once they attain 18 years until they attain 23 years of age. The government has also planned to start a corpus fund of INR 10 lakh which the student would receive at the age of 23. Also, the PM CARES support can be availed by the children who have lost both parents/surviving parents/legal guardians/adoptive parents in the pandemic between March 11, 2020, and December 31, 2021. The recipients of PM CARES would also be covered within the Ayushman Bharat Scheme. In this, a health insurance cover of INR 5 lakh, till 18 years of age is covered by the PM CARES fund.
AICTE – SWANATH Scholarship Scheme
Another groundbreaking government COVID-19 scholarship scheme is the AICTE – SWANATH Scholarship Scheme 2021. This scheme offers optimum encouragement and support to orphans, wards of parents who died due to COVID-19, wards of Armed Forces and Central Paramilitary Forces martyred in action (Shaheed) to pursue education. Indeed, this scholarship is substantial as it attempts to give every such child an opportunity to study further and prepare for a successful future through education.
Under this scholarship, INR 50,000 per annum has been fixed for every year of study i.e., maximum 4 years for first year admitted degree students and maximum 3 years for diploma Students as a lump sum amount towards payment of college fee, purchase of computer, stationeries, books, equipment, software, etc.
COVID-Crisis Scholarships – Corporate-funded
A number of corporate organizations have come on the forefront to support students affected by COVID-led crisis. Some of the key names include – Kotak Education Foundation, HDFC Bank, Rolls-Royce India, Aditya Birla Capital Ltd., etc. Below is a detailed overview of the COVID-crisis scholarships offered by different corporate organisations.
Kotak Shiksha Nidhi
Under the CSR Project of Education & Livelihood of Kotak Group Companies, their partner organisation Kotak Education Foundation has implemented ‘Kotak Shiksha Nidhi’ – financial assistance to students, who have lost primary earning member of the family due to COVID-19, to prevent any hindrance for the continuation of their education.
Eligibility:
- Students studying in schools and colleges across India falling under any of the below categories:
- Loss of both parents due to COVID-19
- Loss of one of the parents due to COVID-19
- Loss of the primary earning member of the family (other than parent) due to COVID-19
- Applicants must be school or college going students from 1st standard up to Diploma or Graduation (ages 6 years to 22 years).
Financial Assistance: Includes school & college fees, library deposit, stationery and other continuation of education relevant expenses payable to school/college, hostel lodging & boarding expenses
Application Deadline: March 31, 2022
Application Mode: Online through Buddy4Study portal
HDFC Bank Parivartan’s COVID Crisis Support Scholarship Program 2021
HDFC Bank Parivartan’s COVID Crisis Support Scholarship Program is an initiative of HDFC Bank. The aim of this scholarship program is to support the children who have been affected by COVID crisis and have not been able to continue their education. The scholarship program attempts to help school students from Class 1-12 to the ones pursuing UG, PG and diploma courses. Within the framework of this scholarship, the students who have lost either or both of their parent(s)/earning member(s) or whose earning family members have lost their employment (or livelihood) during the pandemic will be provided with a one-time financial aid from INR 15,000 to INR 75,000.
Eligibility:
- Students currently studying in Class 1 to 12, diploma, undergraduate or postgraduate (general and professional) program.
- Students who have been through any of the below two crisis situations –
- Students who lost either or both of their parent(s)/earning member(s) since January 2020, OR
- Students whose earning family member lost their employment (or livelihood) during the pandemic
- Annual family income must be less than or equal to INR 6,00,000 (6 lakh) from all sources.
Scholarship Award: INR 15,000 to INR 75,000
Application Deadline: January 15, 2022
Application Mode: Online through Buddy4Study portal
Rolls-Royce Unnati COVID Scholarship for Women in STEM 2021
Rolls-Royce Unnati COVID Scholarship for Women in STEM 2021 is an initiative of Rolls-Royce India to provide financial assistance and education support to girl students who have lost primary earning member/s of the family due to COVID-19, to ensure continuity of their education. Under this initiative, each selected scholar will receive a one-time fixed scholarship of INR 25,000 that can be utilized only for academic expenses which includes tuition fees, hostel fees (on-campus only), internet, laptop, books, stationery, online learning, etc.
Eligibility:
- Indian students who have lost their parent(s)/earning family member due to COVID-19 pandemic.
- Applicants must be pursuing graduation (general & professional) courses in STEM subjects.
- Applicants should be currently enrolled and continuing their education.
- Annual family income of the applicant should be less than INR 6,00,000 (6 Lakh) from all sources.
Scholarship Award: INRn 25,000
Application Deadline: December 31, 2021
Application Mode: Online through Buddy4Study portal
Aditya Birla Capital COVID Scholarship Program
Aditya Birla Capital COVID Scholarship Program is an initiative of Aditya Birla Capital Foundation, a not-for-profit company engaged in CSR initiative(s) of Aditya Birla Capital Limited and its subsidiaries. This program aims to provide financial assistance & education support services to students who have lost their parent(s) due to COVID-19 to ensure continuity of their education. Under this scholarship program, students studying in Class 1 to 12 and undergraduate courses will receive a scholarship ranging up to INR 60,000 (one-time) to cover their academic expenses and additional value added services such as Mental Wellness Coaching, Career Counselling, Life Skills sessions.
Eligibility:
- Indian students who have lost their parent(s) due to the COVID-19 pandemic are eligible.
- Applicants must be studying in Class 1 to 12 or undergraduate (general or professional) degree courses.
- Applicants should be enrolled and continuing their education
Scholarship Award: Scholarship ranging from INR 24,000 to INR 60,000
Application Deadline: January 31, 2022
Application Mode: Online through Buddy4Study portal
COVID Crisis (Jyoti Prakash) Support Scholarship program
COVID Crisis (Jyoti Prakash) Support Scholarship program is a noble initiative on the part of Buddy4Study India Foundation. The aim of this scholarship program is to offer support to the children who become vulnerable and have negligible or zero financial support for their higher education due to COVID-led crises.
This scholarship program aims to provide such affected students with scholarships so that they can continue their education without any hurdles. Moreover, the beneficiaries would also be provided with mentoring and guidance.
Eligibility:
- Open for Indian students from Class 1 to Graduation
- Students who have been through any of the below two crisis situations
- Students who lost their parent(s)/ earning family member since January 2020, OR
- Students whose earning family member lost their job/employment during COVID pandemic
- Students should be enrolled and continuing their education
Scholarship Award:
- INR 9,000 for students below Class 8
- INR 12,000 for Class 9 & 10 students
- INR 15,000 for Class 11 & 12 students
- INR 18,000 to 30,000 for students pursuing graduation
Application Deadline: December 31, 2021
Application Mode: Online through Buddy4Study portal