For thousands of economically challenged students in Odisha, the Tata Steel Foundation’s Jyoti Fellowship has been a beacon of hope.
The program, designed to provide financial and academic support to students from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities, has benefited over 24,000 children across more than ten districts in the past decade.
One such beneficiary is Nibedita P Naik, an eighth-grade student from Manpur village in Jajpur district. Facing financial hardship, Nibedita found a lifeline through the merit-based Jyoti Fellowship. “I wasn’t sure if I would qualify, as many students applied. But now that I’m selected, I feel motivated to pursue higher studies,” she said, expressing her joy and determination.
Similarly, Kabita Munda, a third-year student at VN Autonomous College, shared how the fellowship has helped her afford hostel and coaching expenses. “With this support, I can now focus on my career and aim for higher studies,” she said.
In the 2024-25 cycle, the program assisted 5,864 students, with 4,978 young scholars benefiting in FY’24 alone. Scholars receive funding for study materials, tuition fees, and hostel charges, easing financial burdens and ensuring uninterrupted education.
Among the many success stories is Bijaya Kumar Soren, a medical student from Keonjhar district who is pursuing an MBBS degree at MKCG Medical College, Berhampur. “The assistance has been crucial for me—it helped with my tuition fees and hostel charges,” he shared.
The Jyoti Fellowship’s positive discrimination policy ensures greater inclusivity, particularly for girl students, by lowering the cutoff by 10% to encourage their participation in higher education.
With its steadfast commitment to education and equity, Tata Steel Foundation continues to empower young minds across Odisha, giving them the resources to dream big and pursue bright futures.
