Third edition of women's scholarship programme underway

Hyderabad: Aimed at financially empowering girls to pursue higher education, Wipro Consumer Care & Lighting launched Santoor Women's Scholarship programme in collaboration with Wipro Cares in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in 2016. Santoor, has disbursed the third edition of its Santoor Scholarship Programme to shortlisted girl students from the three states of the country.

Santoor Women's Scholarship program supports underprivileged girls to fulfill their dreams of a college education. Every year, 900 students from the three states receive a scholarship of Rs. 24,000 per annum for all the years of their study to cover expenses such as tuition fees, books and other expenses incidental to education. In the three years, the program has benefited 2,700 women to complete their higher studies.

Applications for the third edition received an overwhelming response. Of the thousands of applications received 300 students from each of the three states were selected and scholarship awarded. This year a significant number of students belong to the backward regions. Of the applicants highest number of applications were from students opting to study science and arts courses and nearly a third opted for technical courses and skill based courses.

Anil Chugh, President – India Business, Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting said, "We are seeing a tremendous response to the scholarship programme since its launch three years ago. This response is a strong indicator that girls are determined to achieve their education despite all odds. Girls from lower economic strata of society face several challenges and the Santoor Women's Scholarship program aims to economically support them to complete their education."

Girl students who have completed their 12th standard from a Government institution and secured admission for the undergraduate programme are eligible to apply. In order to encourage students to study humanities, liberal arts, and sciences, the company has earmarked nearly 60% of the scholarship to such courses. Preference is given to applicants hailing from backward districts.