Kotak Mahindra Group (Kotak) has announced the first two beneficiaries under its recently launched CSR initiative ‘Kotak Shiksha Nidhi’ – giving financial assistance to students who have lost a parent/ parents and/or a primary earning family member to COVID-19, to complete their education.
Vanisha Pathak and Vivan Pathak – siblings aged 17 and 11 years respectively, studying in Bhopal’s government school, lost their parents to COVID-19 in 2021. Further to their application to avail Kotak Shiksha Nidhi*, Kotak is pleased to announce that both Vanisha and Vivan have been selected as recipients of Kotak Shiksha Nidhi from the academic year 2021-22.
Buddy4Study^ – Kotak Education Foundation’s implementing partner for Kotak Shiksha Nidhi has credited the financial assistance to their guardian’s bank account on 30th October, 2021.
Rohit Rao, Joint President & Group Chief CSR Officer, Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited said, “Our condolences and thoughts are with Vanisha and Vivan Pathak and their family. We commend both Vanisha and Vivan’s resilience and desire to continue with their education even after the irreparable loss of their mother and father during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are gratified to be able to help the two students complete their education and it is our sincere endeavour to support as many children as we can so that their education up to diploma or graduation continues unhampered.”
Dr. Ganesh Raja, CEO, Kotak Education Foundation said, “KEF and Buddy4Study – one of India’s largest scholarship platforms, together are working towards expanding the coverage of Kotak Shiksha Nidhi to Kona Kona of India. The online application can be easily accessible via a computer/laptop or even a mobile handset. The financial assistance is given under Kotak Shiksha Nidhi to Vanisha and Vivan Pathak and all other such selected students will cover school and college fees, library deposit, stationery and other relevant expenses payable to the school/college, including hostel lodging and boarding expenses.”
Kotak Shiksha Nidhi
Kotak Shiksha Nidhi is a collaborative CSR Project on Education & Livelihood of Kotak Mahindra Group companies, which is being implemented by Kotak Education Foundation (KEF).
The initiative, open to Indian nationals only, started inviting applications in September. The application window will remain open until 31st March 2022. Students who have lost a parent/parents and/or a primary earning member of the family from 1st April 2020 onwards, and are studying in a government recognised State and Central Board or Indian University in any standard from the first grade to diploma or graduation (i.e. from age six years to 22 years) are eligible to apply.
Application Deadline: 31st March 2022
Apply Online: https://kotakeducation.org/kotak-shiksha-nidhi/
For any further queries, feel free to email at kotakshikshanidhi@buddy4study.com or call at 011-430-92248 (Ext-263)
The following Kotak Mahindra Group Companies are collaboratively funding the CSR Project on Education & Livelihood – Kotak Shiksha Nidhi, which is being implemented by Kotak Education Foundation
- Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company Limited (KMAMC)
- Kotak Mahindra Capital Company Limited (KMCCL)
- Kotak Mahindra Investments Limited (KMIL)
- Kotak Mahindra Prime Limited (KMPL)
- Kotak Mahindra Trustee Company Limited (KMTCL)
- Kotak Investment Advisors Limited (KIAL)
- Kotak Infrastructure Debt Fund Limited (KIDFL)
- Kotak Securities Limited (KSL)
Selection and the quantum of assistance under Kotak Shiksha Nidhi will be based on the fulfillment of the eligibility criteria and will be at the discretion of Kotak Education Foundation.
Kotak Karma is the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Identity of Kotak Mahindra Group.
Kotak Education Foundation (KEF) was established on 14th January, 2007 with a mission to address urban poverty through education & livelihood initiatives. KEF works in the impoverished areas of Mumbai – slums of Deonar, Govandi Chembur, Kurla, Dharavi, etc. to empower children and youth from the underprivileged families through various education and vocational skills training initiatives to make them employable and lead a life with dignity. KEF’s scholarship for meritorious students includes financial assistance, mentoring and coaching sessions to assist the 10th pass, complete 12th and graduation. Further, school dropouts are provided support to rise above the poverty line through skilling and livelihood programmes. KEF is working with 140 plus schools, serving over 1,500 teachers and about one lakh students.
Buddy4Study (B4S), since 2011, is endeavouring to bridge the gap between scholarship providers and scholarship seekers. It is one of the largest platforms in the country that allows both seekers and scholarship providers to access curated scholarship information across the globe. The platform will provide easy access to scholarship with end-to-end application support to students and end-to-end management and monitoring of scholarship support to the provider.
