Tata Motors announces scholarship for 500 underprivileged students in Pune

Pune, December 3, 2019: To encourage underprivileged students to pursue higher education, Tata Motors has initiated a three-year rolling scholarship to 500 students in Pune. Through its flagship education program ‘Vidyadhanam’, Tata Motors will provide scholarships worth Rs. 4,000/- each to academically brilliant and economically underprivileged students studying across standards Class VII to X.

This year, a total of 500 students qualified for this scholarship. Each of these candidates was shortlisted based on a thorough merit test. This initiative was executed in association with various NGOs – Samata Shikshan Sanstha, Seva Sahyog Foundation, Suprabhat Mahila Mandal and Swaroopvardhini.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Vinod Kulkarni, Head – CSR, Tata Motors said, “Nearly 50% of students drop out of schools at secondary education levels, due to acute shortage of institutional support and resources. We, at Tata Motors have made a very conscious effort to target the middle school level where there is a dearth of resources and a significant representation of SC/ST communities. We have always encouraged ‘holistic engagement’ with the entire spectrum of formal education, not just on the academic but also the physical and sociological development as well as the inculcation of values.

Through our education initiative ‘Vidyadhanam’, we focus on improving the academic performance of secondary/college going students through targeted approach by instituting need-based financial support, special coaching classes, etc. In FY 18-19, we positively touched lives of over 1.4 Lakh students. With this scholarship program, we hope to positively impact the lives of these students in their journey towards a better future.”

Vidyadhanam, a flagship education initiative by Tata Motors, was initiated ten years ago to specifically address students who do not or are unable to continue their education after passing out from school, either due to their weak financial conditions or long travel distances to school. The initiatives have led to major improvement in the pass percentage of government schools from 55% in 2015 to 80% in the last academic year. The average score of the students has increased by 5% and 44% of the students have secured more than 60% marks in their class X board examination. Overall, in FY 18-19, Tata Motors has positively touched lives of over 1.4 Lakh students.