Date:11/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/11/stories/2008041159360500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

SRM University scholarships for toppers at district and State levels

Special Correspondent

Students studying elsewhere will also stand to benefit

— Photo: S.R. Raghunathan

Interaction: Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Namo Narain Meena with students after distributing scholarships instituted by SRM University in Chennai on Thursday. SRM Chancellor T.R. Pachamuthu and Vice-Chancellor P. Sathyanarayanan are in the picture.

CHENNAI: SRM University has joined the growing list of technical education institutions offering scholarships to district and state toppers at the higher secondary level.

The offer has an additional generous twist: it will pay the tuition fees even if they do not choose to study at SRM.

Making the announcement at a scholarships award function on Thursday, SRM chancellor T.R. Pachamuthu said the scholarship would be available from the coming academic year to the top two students in the state’s Higher Secondary board examination in each district in Tamil Nadu, as well as the top student in the CBSE board examination in each Indian state.

If these students choose to join any of the SRM group institutions, which offer education in engineering, medicine, management, arts, sciences, hotel management and journalism, they will be given a scholarship covering their tuition, hostel, mess and transport fees and a monthly stipend of Rs. 1,000. If they choose to study in any government college, run by the State or Central governments, they will still receive a scholarship covering their tuition fees for the duration of their course.

“So if an eligible student gets into IIT, he need not worry. We will still offer the scholarship… of course, he cannot get another scholarship from the institution he enters as well. There will be no dual benefit,” explained SRM vice-chancellor P. Sathyanarayanan, speaking to reporters after the function.

Higher budget

This new initiative will take SRM’s annual scholarship budget to Rs. 8 crore from the current Rs.5.5 crore. Last year, 1,050 students, who constitute six per cent of the student population of SRM, were given a variety of scholarships, based on academic performance, sports potential, financial need and physical disabilities.

Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Namo Narain Meena, who presented the scholarship awards at the function, welcomed SRM’s initiative. He said such measures would complement the efforts of the Central government to enhance access to higher education. “However, increased enrolment should also come with inclusiveness, quality and relevance in education,” he said.