Scholarships help students

CHENNAI: The confident smile on Shivashankari’s face as she strode over to the dias to receive a scholarship, for scoring more than 98 per cent consecutively for the past three years, said it all. At the function organised by the Pehchaan Charitable Trust, about 267 students from 123 schools were honoured for their consistent academic track records, under the Sri Badalchand Sugankaver Chordia Scholarship scheme on Sunday.For parents at the gathering, the initiative has not only motivated their wards to excel academically, but also helped them focus on other interests. K Savitha Rani, the sole bread winner of her family, who works in a manufacturing company in Manali, believes she will be able to support her elevenyear- old’s education with a scholarship. Last year, she received `1,250 for her daughter, Poojashree’s academic performance.“My daughter will get the scholarship for scoring 482 in her annual exams. I wouldn’t have been able to afford extracurricular activities for her without the scholarship. She is now enrolled in a Hindi tutorial and is also taking piano classes,” she said.Gautam Bagmar, President, said, “If knowledge is given to today’s generation, we can empower the world.” He also announced that a programme would be held at the Music Academy on August 7 this year to raise funds for the scholarship scheme of the Trust.Mayur Davey, Managing Trustee, said that the Trust’s initiatives such as the free computer training centres were aimed at supporting the education of underprivileged children — to pursue higher education. Speaker of the TN Legislative Assembly, D Jayakumar, who presided over the event as Chief Guest, pledged his support to the students from the corporation schools as well.Scholarships to the tune of about `6 lakh was distributed to the students.Members of the Pehchaan trust, which was constituted in 1998, were present at the occasion. Navaratanmull Chordia, Chairman of Khivraj motors, Jain Dhaval J Chandan, Chairman of RPM Infotec Private Ltd, R Prasanchand Chordia, Managing trustee, S Badalchand Chordia Trust and philanthropist Loon Karan Surana presided over the event.