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Who are the beneficiary students?
How do we select the beneficiary students?
How do we operate in India from here in the United States?
Which are the beneficiary states?
What is the average cost of a scholarship?
What is the gender composition and rural-urban split of scholarship recipients?
Who are the beneficiary students? Back to Top
The list of beneficiary students includes orphans, wards of widows, terminally sick parents, drivers,
bicycle repariers, pensioners and others; most of them from families with a gross per capita income of
less than a dollar a day (i.e. gross family income significantly below US $2000 per year.)
How do we select the beneficiary students? Back to Top
We have a well laid out procedure and rigorous selection criteria. We invite applications through over 200 principals
of colleges as well as press advertisements. All applications must be in the prescribed format, and must be accompanied by
duly certified documentation on items such as the cost of study, student's grades in recent examinations, the family
income and the number of siblings receiving college education. Thereafter, each case is carefully scrutinized in our foundation
and, if acceptable, the scholarship amount is tailored to the need of each student.
Nishkam, our major cooperating institution, the
Vice-Chancellors of Punjab Agricultural University, and the Guru Nanak Dev University follow their own selection procedures
which could include, at a minimum, interview of each applicant, (and also a moral science test in the case of Nishkam). They
send their recommendations to SHDF in the USA.
How do we operate in India from here in the United States? Back to Top
We operate through most reputable institutions, like the Government of India-recognized Nishkam Sikh Welfare Council and selected
universities. Nishkam, with an unblemished record of service, a dedicated team of honorary professionals and rich experience
in handling scholarship programs, is our principal cooperating institution. We also partner with two universities in Punjav, the Guru
Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, and the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, where respective Vice-Chancellors supervise
the whole selection process. Our foundation members make periodic visits to India to meet beneficiary students and our partners.
Which are the beneficiary states? Back to Top
The beneficiary states are from northern India, including Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir.
What is the average cost of a scholarship? Back to Top
Currently, the average cost of a scholarship is $400, which may go up to $500 in the new rising cost of education in India,
as well as the strengthening of the Indian Rupee against the US Dollar.
What is the gender composition and rural-urban split of scholarship recipients? Back to Top
Females, 52%, Males, 48%. Students from rural areas, 56%, urban areas 44%.
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