Thirty-six students with disabilities from the State were awarded with higher education scholarship by Indus Towers in collaboration with Shishu Sarothi.
A felicitation and induction session was held today at the Bethany Society, Shillong for the students to orient them about the methodology of claims and mode of scholarship disbursement.
Indus Towers, in its seventh year of partnership with Shishu Sarothi for the said scholarship program, is offering scholarships to 180 students in 2022-23 across India towards academics/professional and coaching for employment-oriented examinations. Of these, 162 are from the northeast region and 18 slots are reserved for students with disabilities from outside the northeast, but who are studying in government recognized institutions of national importance in the country.
Indus Towers Scholarship Program (NE Region), Shishu Sarothi programme manager, Seema Jangid quoted WHO figures that 16 per cent of the world population are people living with disabilities. She said children with disabilities rarely progress beyond primary school and only 9 per cent complete secondary education. 45 per cent of people with disabilities are illiterate and about 62.9 per cent of people with disabilities between 3 to 35 years have ever attended regular school in India, she added.
She expressed her deep appreciation to Indus Towers and Enable India for coming on board, to provide career counselling, which is a critical input to orient students to take right decisions in making their career choices as well as the Bethany Society for assistance and support towards implementation of the program.
Social Welfare Director, DD Shira who attended the programme as the chief guest congratulated the scholars from Meghalaya and asked them to take up the given opportunities and make the most of the scholarship. He commended Indus Towers Ltd for the noble initiative and the seamless implementation of the scholarship program by Shishu Sarothi and the Bethany Society.
Enable India Associate Director, Shibu D’Luke and Rajender Gurung, Circle CEO, NE Assam, Indus Towers also spoke on the occasion.
