- Sakal India Foundation
- June 1, 2021
The Sakal India Foundation (SIA) was founded in 1959 as an educational organization which is dedicated to providing enriched learning experiences. Sakal India Foundations provides scholarships to Indian students proposing to pursue post-graduate studies from abroad or research studies leading to PhD.
In 2018, 2019, and 2020 more than 300 students received an interest-free loan scholarship, each of INR 70,000.
The grants were offered to students, who are going for their master’s degrees in various areas from artificial intelligence to management specialization in different places like Germany, New York, Boston, Baltimore, etc.
The students expressed that unlike other scholarships, which are granted from the social and economic background of the family, the foundation judges a student purely on their merit.
The idea of setting up an organisation to encourage and assist needy and deserving students with grants and scholarships to pursue higher education was conceived by the late Dr. N. B. Parulekar the managing editor of daily Sakal. With a donation of Rs. 1,25,000/- from Prof. R.S. Deshpande, former professor in the college of Engineering , Pune; Parulekar’s recurring contributions and moral support of six distinguished persons, India Foundation was established as a registered society and an educational trust under the Socities Registration Act XXI of 1860 on March 30, 1959.In 2003, the trust was renamed Sakal India Foundation. In 1985, when Mr. Pratap G. Pawar took over the reins of the management of the house of Sakal
he initiated a series of events that transformed its image. The administrative and financial reforms and policy decisions led to a metamorphosis of the Sakal group. The firm belief of the management, that journalism is a means for enlightenment of the masses and for social engineering, was reflected in the group’s working.
Gradual but determined steps were taken to achieve the objectives. They were woven into the diverse activities launched in the next three decades. The thrust was on all elements, components, professions, age-groups and sectors of the reading community. Sakal India Foundation has been supported by Sakal Papers Pvt. Ltd. since 1985. Some of the objectives of the Foundation are:
- To grant scholarships and financial aid as gift or loan to students, teachers, professionals, social workers with outstanding merit, including potential for leadership, for higher studies in India and abroad irrespective of their race or religion.
- To grant scholarships and financial aid to needy and deserving individuals for study of technology in India and abroad.
- To promote and establish cooperation between India and other countries for furtherance of research and higher studies.
To help students to go abroad for higher studies, students were selected on the all over India basis and offered interest free loan scholarships. Recently, the scholarships were extended to students pursuing research leading to Ph.D. in India. The all India publicity, strict scrutiny and through screening of applications by a selection committee of trustees and experts have raised the credibility of the programme. Selection for award of a loan or a grant, Sakal India Foundation has become a high point in the academic world. The academic achievements and professional attainments of the awardees and loan repayment in the stipulated period have justified the selection of the awardees. The list of the awardees is a veritable roll of honour of distinguished personalities from different walks of life. The success of the loan scholarship programme led to the launch of another project. To induce school and college students and teachers into taking up research activity, research proposals were invited. After assessment , a financial assistance in the form of research fellowships were offered.
Interaction with Indian expatriates around the world showed that highly-qualified and professionally established Indians had a strong urge to extend financial assistance to socially and economically underprivileged but academically meritorious students. An appeal to them evoked a favorable and generous response in the form of contributions of $200 per year per student over a minimum of four years. Thus began in 1984 the career development scheme to identify needy, deserving and meritorious students and offer them financial help to continue higher education, which otherwise was a distant possibility for them. Sakal India Foundation has become a center for providing guidance to students in selecting appropriate courses and institutions. Compilation of information on the available avenues of education is one of the activities of the foundation. Students in need of vocational guidance are advised adequately and directed to appropriate authorities.
A review of the last more than 50 years of service by Sakal India Foundation to the youth brings a sense of satisfaction and directs attention to additional needs of young students. The constraint of limited funds needs to be overcome to achieve quantitative expansion. To catering to growing needs of young boys and girls studying specialised areas, diversification of programmes is inevitable. Undertaking qualitative expansion in newer fields, model programme could be devised. The inadequacy of institutions of formal education, burdened by increasing enrollment and shackled by rigid programme of instructions, leaves room for supplementary efforts. Sakal India Foundation anticipates the role of an entrepreneur to stimulate innovative ideas and infuse creativity.
Pratap Pawar, Chairman and Managing Director at Sakal Papers Pvt. Ltd. stated that children must move to foreign countries to gain a better quality education, but they should also return to the country to empower the nation. “We have often seen many students who have gone abroad to study and settled there. I understand students get a quality education and definitely one must look higher to achieve better in a career. But, it must be your responsibility to return to the country and share your knowledge to improve the educational system to make the nation powerful. It is necessary to understand inner strengths and ability and what one wants to pursue in life. This helps you to hold onto your dreams till the end,” said Pawar.
The Foundation, for the academic year 2021-2022 invites applications for the above mentioned interest free loan scholarship, repayable in two years, from Indian Students proposing to pursue post-graduate studies abroad or research studies leading to Ph D in India.
The applicant must have secured confirmed admission for Post-Graduate degree in any Foreign University for academic study of not less than one year’s duration for the academic year 2020-2021 or the applicant must have valid registration, for doing research leading to Ph D in a statutory university, national institute or institution of equivalent standing in India, two years previous to the date of application for interest free Loan Scholarship.
In addition, one scholarship of Rs 10,000 (Non-refundable) will be awarded to a deserving student pursuing post-graduate studies or research leading to Ph D in Journalism satisfying above pre – conditions in India or abroad.
Those who satisfy above pre-conditions are advised to visit our website www.sakalindiafoundation.com along with a necessary documents like formal admit letter or registration letter of confirmed admission from the concerned University or Institute, mark sheets etc. You have to fill up the form and submit it on our website only. No need of hard copy.
The students expressed that unlike other scholarships, which are granted on the basis of the social and economic background of the family, the foundation judges a student purely on the basis of their merit.
Opening Date: 1st June, 2021.
Address: Sakal India Foundation, Plot No.27, Narveer Tanaji Wadi, Near PMT Depot, near Sakhar Sankul, Shivajinagar, Pune-411005
Contact No: 020 66262373 / 020 25602100 (373)
AN APPEAL FOR GENEROUS HELP
A review of the last 60 years of service rendered by Sakal India Foundation to the youth not only reflects a sense of satisfaction but also prompts and directs attention to various additional needs of young students and teachers as well.
To begin with, the constraint of limited funds required to be overcome to achieve quantitative as well as qualitative expansion. We solicit you to respond by associating yourself or inducing any person to associate with Sakal India Foundation in the following manner:
Making donation which are eligible for concession in Income Tax under 80G of the Income Tax Act.
Subscribing to Endowment Fund by offering a lump sum with a stipulation to invest the amount and utilise interest thereon for a specific project which will have Income Tax concession benefit.
Interest-free Loan Scholarship Form
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