KOLLAM: Scripting a new chapter in social empowerment, a 1990-batch Kerala cadre Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer has come up with a novel initiative - funding the dreams of tribal girl students in the state through a scholarship scheme. The initiative for tribal girl students who are undergoing professional/vocational courses was pitched by Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Eco Development and Tribal Welfare), Prakriti Srivastava.“A week ago the government gave administrative sanction for the scholarship scheme, named ‘Srishti’. As per the government decision, the State Forest Development Agency (SFDA) will oversee its implementation.
Earlier, the eighth general body meeting and 11th executive committee meeting of the SFDA had approved the proposal pitched by Prakriti,” said a senior officer with the Forest Department.
“Setting the wheels in motion, she not only opened a fixed deposit account at the Corporation Bank’s Vellayambalam branch but also made a personal contribution of R2 lakh to the account. The fixed deposit for one year will be renewed annually by the SFDA. The interest from the deposit will be utilised to give the scholarship.”
“I had nourished such an idea from 2015. As a Civil Service officer, I believe it’s my duty to give something back to society. I believe a scheme like this could kindle hopes of girls who dream big. Glad that the Kerala Forest Department, as well as the state government, welcomed the idea wholeheartedly,” Prakriti Srivastava told Express. The first beneficiary of the scholarship scheme is Jijitha, a tribal girl hailing from a settlement in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. She is a first-year MBBS student of Kozhikode Medical College.
According to officers, while giving administrative sanction, the government has proposed a set of guidelines mentioning the eligibility criteria and selection of beneficiary for the scholarship scheme.
“One important guideline is the applications received through the Forest Development Agency will be scrutinised by a committee with the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Forest Management) as its chairperson.
A candidate whose parent’s/guardian’s income from all sources does not exceed R15,000 per month will be eligible. Also, the student will be provided with scholarship till the completion of the course,” said an SFDA officer.