Bhubaneswar: Bansidhar & Ila Panda Foundation (BIPF), the social development arm of Indian Metals and Ferro Alloys Limited (IMFA), felicitated the six recipients of Professor Ghanashyam Dash Scholarship (PGDS) for Higher Education for the academic year 2023-2024.
This was the 19th year of PGDS initiative, under which scholarship is awarded to six meritorious students (Odisha domicile) to facilitate higher education in the fields of engineering, medicine and liberal arts across India.
KVM Prassana Kumar, Priyanshu Panda, Himanshu Sekhar Patra and Priyanka Dalai received scholarships to pursue engineering at IIIT Dharwad, IIT Madras, IGIT Sarang and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, respectively.
Prayas Rout and Abhipsa Chowdhury were awarded scholarships to pursue medicine at AIIMS Bhubaneswar.
The six students were felicitated in the presence of Executive Director & CEO of AIIMS Bhubaneswar Prof. (Dr) Ashutosh Biswas, Trustee & Founder CEO of BIPF Shaifalika Panda and other senior officials from BIPF.
The scholarship, worth a maximum of Rs 6 lakh per awardee, covers upto 90% of the students’ academic fees and eligible expenses for their four-year professional studies.
Besides financial support, the scholarship recipients are also eligible for ‘Utsah,’ a mentorship programme run by BIPF under which students receive mentorship from IMFA executives. They provide regular counselling, moral support, academic guidance, networking opportunities and overall assistance to help students realise their full potential for a well-planned career trajectory.
“Education has the power to transform. The PGDS was instituted with the aim to contribute to a progressive-inclusive-equitable society where no one is left behind. This opportunity allows our recipients to unleash themselves from the shackles of their socio-economic barriers onto their journey of professional success,” said Shaifalika.
Prof. (Dr) Biswas emphasised that real success stems from integrity and values.
“While academic excellence is crucial, it is your societal contributions that will determine your lasting achievements. Balance your academic pursuits with nurturing humanity and actively serve the community to make a meaningful impact,” said the AIIMS Bhubaneswar ED & CEO.