Around 125 Konkani students pursuing degree and professional education received a scholarship of Rs 22 lakh at a function held at Narmada Hall, Karnakodam on Wednesday.
The award ceremony was organised by the Konkani Language and Cultural Foundation, World Konkani Centre, Mangalore and Viswa Konkani Students Scholarship Fund (VKSSF)in association with Ernakulam Anugraha Charitable Trust. The amount has been sponsored by VKSSF. “Our attempt to provide scholarships is in continuation with a directive given by T V Mohandas Pai, a chief patron of our fund. The merit-cum-scholarship instituted in 2010 has so far distributed Rs 5 crore. Also, it is a step towards building a strong Konkani community,” said Pradeep G Pai, secretary of VKSSF.
Basti Vaman Shenoy, president, Konkani Bhas Ani Prathishtan who presided over the function said the development of Konkani language and the community is being taken up by Viswa Konkani Prathishtan. “Anugraha Charitable Trust is doing Yeomen service towards the development of Konkani Community,” he added.
R Hari, exponent on Bharatiya Culture and Heritage, Payyanur Ramesh Pai, chairman of Kerala Konkani Academy, R Bhaskar Shenoi, president, Anugraha Charitable Trust, and Guru Bhantwalkar, assistant director, World Institute of Konkani Language, also spoke on the occasion.