Shilpa Bellad’s elder sister was married after she finished 10th standard. But, Shilpa, a distinction student all along, is in final BCom and wants to pursue MBA in Finance to take up a good job.

Her father is a weaver in Gadag and family income is not sufficient to achieve her goal. She works part-time in her uncle’s grocery shop to earn extra money.

Davangere’s Keerthi is now in first year BA (Psychology). She has lost her father while her mother, a nursery teacher in a private school, struggles to meet daily requirements and the education needs of Keerthi’s three younger siblings.

Means

Nandita S Batagurki, who had secured 95 per cent marks in PUC, is doing BE in PESIT, Bangalore.
She wants to complete BE and pursue MS in Aeronautical Engineering.

She does not have the means to achieve the goal as her father is a retired employee. The three were among the 60 meritorious girls, who had gathered in Bangalore for final interviews for selection to Fair and Lovely Foundation Scholarships 2007 for determined girls needing financial support. 

400 shortlisted

As many as 400 girls had been shortlisted from about three lakh applicants across India for the Foundation’s fifth annual scholarships, which are awarded on the basis of merit and economic condition.

Similar interviews have been concluded in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata already. Singer Kavitha Krishnamurthy, who is in the panel selecting the deserving candidates, said: “It’s nice to see that girls of this generation are determined to stand up on their feet and not just get married.”

Scholarship

Each of the candidates recommended by the selection panel would be given scholarship which might sum up to Rs one lakh, for their graduation, post-graduation and doctoral studies in India.

The amount is supposed to be decided on the basis of their requirement and economic condition.