Twenty students with disabilities from Meghalaya were awarded scholarships as a part of Saksham, the flagship corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme of Indus Towers.
The Indus Towers Scholarship Award, implemented by Guwahati-based Shishu Sarothi, was organised yesterday in Shillong in collaboration with Bethany Society, the state partners for the implementation of Indus Towers Scholarship Programme in Meghalaya.
Indus Towers, now in its seventh year of partnership with Shishu Sarothi, will be offering scholarships to 180 students for the 2023-24 academic year towards academics/professional and coaching for employment oriented examinations.
Out of these, 162 students belong to the North East, while scholarships for 18 slots are reserved for students with disabilities from outside the region who are studying in government recognised institutions of national importance.
Ketaki Bardalai, Executive Director of Shishu Sarothi, mentioned about the educational challenges faced by children with disabilities, especially in the North East. Citing recent WHO figures, she said that only 9 percent of these children complete secondary education and 45 percent remain illiterate.
Bertha Dkhar, Executive Director of Bethany Society, expressed admiration for the lasting impact of the Indus Towers Scholarship Programme since its inception in 2016.
The felicitation ceremony was followed by an induction to guide scholars on accessing the scholarship portal and other relevant information.
The programme concluded with an awareness session on the Rights for Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 conducted for student scholars. The initiative sought to equip the student scholars with valuable insights into the legal landscape surrounding disabilities, ensuring that they are well-informed and capable of navigating the various provisions and safeguards available to them. The session covered key aspects of the law, including provisions related to education, employment, accessibility and non-discrimination.
The Indus Towers Scholarship Programme has supported 644 students since its inception from the North East and beyond. The programme provides support for educational fees and some students receive additional assistance for study materials, assistive devices, hostel fees and conveyance.
Indus Towers is a provider of passive telecom infrastructure and it deploys, owns and manages telecom towers and communication structures for various mobile operators.
