VIT scheme helps topper among rural schools

[sajiv]

VIT scheme helps topper among rural schools

VELLORE: Jenifer Nisha, daughter of a 'sundal' seller in Melur in Madurai district, has been selected for admission to B.Tech. electrical and electronics engineering in the VIT University, Vellore, under its STARS (Support The Advancement of Rural Students) Scheme.

She was a topper among rural government schools in Madurai district in Plus-Two public examinations held in Tamil Nadu in March.

Under the STARS Scheme, the VIT University has selected 38 toppers from the southern districts with poor economic background, of which 12 have joined the VIT during the first phase of counselling, which concluded recently.

Jenifer Nisha's father Shahul Hameed could not help her much with a monthly income of Rs.1,000, which he got by selling 'sundal' on a pushcart.

The STARS Scheme has helped her realise her dream of joining an engineering degree course, which will enable her to realise her ultimate dream of becoming a technocrat.

G. Viswanathan, Chancellor of VIT University, said in a release, "a child should not be deprived of quality education owing to poverty, and this made me think of this innovative STARS Scheme." Toppers in government schools from each rural backward district in Tamil Nadu, who appeared for the VIT Engineering Entrance Examination 2009, would be awarded 100 per cent tuition fee waiver and full exemption from hostel and mess fees under the STARS Scheme.

The aim of the VIT was to attain number one status in the country. Schemes such as STARS would facilitate the university to accomplish the goal, he said.

The VIT University, which had introduced STARS Scheme last year for district toppers from rural government schools in seven districts of Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Kancheepuram, Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri, extended it to all the districts in Tamil Nadu.

It was following a request made by Thangam Thennarasu, Minister for School Education, during his visit to the VIT to inaugurate the scheme last year, so that more number of rural students benefited by the scheme.

The VIT University would be conducting a selection test at St. Joseph' s College, Tiruchi, at 9 a.m. on June 27 for five boys and five girls of rural government schools who secured first five ranks in each of the districts of Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Pudukottai, Karur, Perambalur and Ariyalur, to select the student eligible for admission under STARS Scheme from the above districts.

A similar selection test for eligible students from the districts of Coimbatore, Erode, the Nilgiris and Namakkal would be held at St. Michael's School, Coimbatore, at 9 a.m. on June 28, while the selection test for the eligible students from the districts of Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Salem and Dharmapuri would be held at the VIT University campus, Vellore, at 9 a.m. on June 30.