The event was attended by dignitaries such as Dr. L. Swasticharan (Additional Deputy Director General of Health Services) as the Guest of Honour, Lt. Gen. Satish R. Iyer (Director General Dental Services), Dr. Puneet Girdhar (President IDA), Dr. Ashok Dhoble (Hon Sec General IDA), Dr. Meera Verma (Chairperson for DDS), and Dr. Vandana Agarwal (Organising Secretary DDS), Mr. Navneet Saluja, MD, India Sub-Continent, Haleon India, and Ms. Anurita Chopra, Head of Marketing, India Sub-Continent, Haleon India.
- This scholarship programme for BDS students is a CSR initiative by Haleon India (erstwhile GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare), which aligns with the company’s purpose “to deliver better everyday health with humanity.”
- Over INR six crores will be disbursed under this scheme amongst these 143 students to support their educational and living expenses incurred during their four-year BDS programme.
- Each student will receive financial assistance of INR 1,05,000 per year for four years of their BDS course.
- To facilitate underprivileged and exceptional dental students to bring their dreams to life, Haleon India launched this programme in partnership with IDA and Buddy4Study (B4S) in July 2022.
- It is a step towards addressing disparities in the dentist-to-population ratio.
- After receiving over 2000 applications, IDA and B4S began the selection process to select the 143 deserving students.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Shanu Saksena, CSR Head, Haleon India (GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare), said, “We are elated to announce the well-deserving winners of this scholarship, and many congratulations to them. We would like to thank the Indian Dental Association for being our trusted knowledge partner and sharing their knowledge and support throughout this endeavour. Together, we are proud to provide an opportunity to these aspiring dental students to achieve their dreams and make a difference in the world. This initiative is a true representation of Haleon’s purpose ‘to deliver better health with humanity’, and we are excited to play this pivotal role in their professional and educational journey.”
Dr. Ashok Dhoble, Hon. Secretary General, Indian Dental Association said, “First of all, a huge congratulations to the 143 students who have been awarded the Sensodyne IDA Shining Star Scholarship to pursue Bachelor’s in Dental Surgery through government dental colleges. The Indian Dental Association (IDA) has always been at the forefront to support dental college students and has been their friend, advocate, and guide. As the knowledge partner to the Sensodyne IDA Shining Star Scholarship Programme, IDA wholeheartedly supports this initiative by Haleon India. IDA believes that this project would not only touch the lives of the financially less privileged, meritorious students but also fulfil their family’s dreams. IDA is committed to handhold every student until their goals are achieved.”
About Haleon India (erstwhile GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare)
Haleon India is a leading, fast-moving consumer healthcare company with over 500 employees. The company has in its portfolio top brands such as Sensodyne, Eno, Crocin, Otrivin, Iodex, Ostocalcium, and Centrum.
