“If the poor boy cannot come to education, education must go to him”
This quote by Swami Vivekananda very aptly enforces our responsibility toward providing education for all. All of us humans are created equal but right after birth, we are divided based on caste, religion, status and money. This, in turn, changes the whole dynamics. Some get privileged and are able to access a better lifestyle while others are left scrambling for even basic survival. We, as the privileged ones, ought to have a sense of responsibility for the betterment of those less fortunate. In the fight against poverty, education could prove to be our biggest asset. Education goes a long way in bringing a change in the society by creating a fair competitive environment. You enable education for a poor boy and thus enable for him a sea of opportunities. Government and non-government organizations do their bit by providing scholarships for poor students. We will discuss a few of them here.
Importance of education
Education is crucial for the overall growth and development of a child, more so for a financially underprivileged one. Education opens doors to opportunities which then paves way for a better life. Ensuring quality education for all is essential in creating a level playing field, a scenario where people can be judged based on their talent and hard work and not on their financial background. People could then have equal opportunities to shine. Better education enables social and economic well being.
Major Scholarships for Poor Students/ Financially Underprivileged Students*
Here are a few major scholarships that can be helpful for poor children. These scholarships for poor students are at the forefront of our fight against poverty and inequality.
Shubh Aarambh Scholarship
The Shubh Aarambh Scholarship is provided by Mondelez International in collaboration with Magic Bus India Foundation. It aims to provide support to needy students from financially weaker sections to pursue higher education.
Eligibility: Class 12 students having annual family income less than INR 3 lakh
Award: Tuition fee up to INR 40,000 per scholar
Deadline: August 1 is the last date to apply
National Means Cum Merit Scholarship
The National Means Cum Merit Scholarship is offered by the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development for students studying in class 9 and belonging to poor families. The aim of the scholarship scheme is to reduce the drop-out rates at class 8.
Eligibility: Class 9 students having annual family income less than INR 1.5 lakh
Award: Up to INR 6000 per annum
Deadline: October 31 is the last date to apply
Swami Dayanand Education Foundation Merit-cum-Means Scholarship
Swami Dayanand Education Foundation Merit-cum-Means Scholarship is for students pursuing professional courses like Engineering, MBBS, IT, Pharmacy etc. It aims to provide economically weaker students with an opportunity for higher education.
Eligibility: Students enrolled in Engineering, MBBS, Pharmacy, IT, Architecture courses and having gross annual family income less than INR 6 lakh
Award: Up to INR 50,000 per annum
Deadline: August 31 is the last date to apply
Merck India Charitable Trust (MICT) Scholarship Program
Merck India Charitable Trust (MICT) Scholarship Program is for class 10 passed students who are unable to fully realise their potential due to financial constraints.
Eligibility: Class 10 passed students having scored at least 80% marks and having a family income of less than INR 20,000 per month
Award: Up to INR 35,000 per annum till graduation
Deadline: August 25 is the last date to apply
North South Foundation (NSF) Scholarship
The North South Foundation Scholarship is for poor students having passed class 12 and entering into engineering, medicine or 3-year polytechnic. The scholarship awarded by the NSF based in Illinois, USA aims to support the education of meritorious students who usually miss out on quality education due to a lack of funds.
Eligibility: Class 12 passed students with an annual family income less than INR 90,000
Award: Up to INR 25,000 per annum
Deadline: September 15 is the last date to apply
Baba Gurbachan Singh Scholarship Scheme
Baba Gurbachan Singh Scholarship Scheme is specifically for first year degree/diploma students. This scheme scholarships for poor students, support bright students coming from economically weaker sections of the society.
Eligibility: First year degree/diploma students with an annual family income less than INR 3.5 lakh
Award: Up to 100% tuition fee assistance
Deadline: September 30 is the last date to apply
These scholarships for poor students have helped thousands of deserving candidates till now. You can find more details about these scholarships easily on the Buddy4Study website.