10 students with disabilities from Nagaland awarded Saksham scholarships

DIMAPUR — As many as 10 students with disabilities from Nagaland were awarded scholarships as part of Saksham, the flagship corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme of Indus Towers, a leading provider of passive telecom infrastructure, on Tuesday at Tourist Lodge, Dimapur.

A press release mentioned that the award ceremony was implemented by Shishu Sarothi and organised in collaboration with the Nagaland State Disability Forum, the state partner for the implementation of the scholarship programme in Nagaland.

Indus Towers will offer scholarships to 180 students for the 2023–24 academic year. These scholarships will support academic and professional studies, as well as coaching for employment-oriented examinations. Of the total, 162 scholarships are allocated to students from the Northeast region. The remaining 18 scholarships are reserved for students with disabilities from regions outside the Northeast who are enrolled in government-recognised institutions of national importance.

During the event, Diethono Nakhro, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, praised the scholarship programme initiated by Shishu Sarothi and Indus Towers. She highlighted its significant impact on supporting differently-abled students.

Nakhro also commended the company’s efforts in empowering these youths, enabling them to pursue education and aim for promising careers, and emphasised how this fosters inclusivity and socio-economic growth in the region.

Imsuinla, District Inclusive Education Coordinator, Samagra Shiksha, also commended the initiative and expressed admiration for the programme’s commitment to addressing the educational needs of persons with disabilities. In her address, she highlighted the rarity of such initiatives and lauded Indus Towers for taking a step towards inclusivity.

Shishu Sarothi Executive Director Ketaki Bardalai spoke about the educational challenges faced by children with disabilities, particularly in India’s Northeast region, while Rajender Gurung, CEO-NESA Circle, Indus Towers, stated that Indus Towers believes that supporting communities with CSR can have a significant impact.

The programme concluded with an awareness session on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016.

The Indus Towers Scholarship Programme, implemented by Shishu Sarothi, was initiated in 2016. Since then, it has supported 644 students from the Northeast and beyond. The programme provides support for educational fees, and some students receive additional assistance for study materials, assistive devices, hostel fees, and conveyance.