The Kerala State Welfare Corporation for Forward Communities (KSWCFC), also known as Samunnathi, is a Government of Kerala undertaking which is tasked with promoting the growth and development of financially-stricken (deprived) families within the forward communities of Kerala. Incorporating a multidimensional approach, the corporation not only aims at enhancing the level of education but also provides support to improve the living conditions of economically backward people of the community. The KSWCFC also runs various training programs on skill and personality development and entrepreneurship. Thus, recognizing the need for the overall development of financially backward communities within Kerala, the corporation started the Vidya Samunnathi Scholarship(VSS) in the year 2013. In this blog, we will discuss the important details pertaining to this prestigious scholarship program.
Coaching Assistance Program
Operated under the Vidya Samunnathi Educational Schemes, the scholarship program is also accompanied by a Coaching Assistance scheme that aims at providing financial assistance to students preparing for national and state-level competitive exams like UPSC, PSC, Bank, Medical, and Engineering exams. The benefit amount varies on the type of exam and at what level it is being taken. The following table summarises all the necessary details:
[optin-monster-shortcode id=”xf2mlnjiouddzrshykdb”]Eligibility | Exams Applied For | Amount of Scholarship | No. of Scholarships Available |
Current or Past 2 years Higher Secondary Students | Medical, Engineering Coaching | INR 10,000 | 840 |
Relevant Eligibility Criteria | Bank, UPSC, PSC | INR 6,000 | 7,000 |
Relevant Eligibility Criteria | UPSC (Civil Service Exams) | INR 15,000 (Preliminary)INR 25,000 (Mains)INR 30,000 (Interview) |
Note: In addition to fulfilling the eligibility criteria related to the origin and family income, prospective applicants should also not have applied for assistance in the previous year.
In addition to this scheme, the state of Kerala also offers DMS Scholarship, Prathibha Scholarship, and DCE Scholarship to foster awareness towards education in students and families.
Vidya Samunnathi Scholarship: Eligibility
The scholarship scheme is operated under certain eligibility criteria which help in providing necessary assistance to those who are in genuine need. The Vidya Samunnathi Scholarship provides assistance solely based on the financial conditions of the students who want to pursue higher education. The following table delineates the exact minimum criteria for eligibility practised: (More information can be found on this website)
Origin | Must be a resident of the state of Kerala and should belong to the non-reserved forward community. |
Family Income | Under 2 lakhs from all sources. |
Eligible Courses |
High SchoolHigher Secondary Level EducationGraduation (Non-Professional)Diploma or Certificate ProgramsPost Graduation (Non-Professional)Graduation (Professional)Post-Graduation (Professional)Professional Qualifications (CA, ICWA, CS)National Institute (IITs, NITs, etc) |
Vidya Samunnathi Scholarship: Benefits
The financial aid provided under the Vidya Samunnathi Scholarship depends on the level of the course pursued (bachelor’s or master’s) and the nature of the program (professional or non-professional). Since the number of scholarships available is limited, the interested candidates should apply in a time-bound manner with all the necessary documents. The benefits given to the specific course level has been tabulated below:
Level of Education | Amount of Scholarship (per annum) | No. of Scholarships Available |
High School | INR 2,000 | 20,000 |
Higher Secondary Level | INR 3,000 | 14,000 |
Graduation (Non-Professional) | INR 5,000 | 3500 |
Diploma/Certificate | INR 6,000 | 1,000 |
Post Graduation (Non-Professional) | INR 6,000 | 1,667 |
Graduation (Professional) | INR 7,000 | 2,500 |
Post-Graduation (Professional) | INR 8,000 | 1,250 |
Professional Qualifications (CA/ICWA/CS) | INR 10,000 | 100 |
National Institute (IITs, NITs, etc) | INR 50,000 | 120 |
Note: Prospective applicants must have an active bank account in any recognized bank.
Vidya Samunnathi Scholarship: Application Procedure
As prescribed by the KSWCFC, the application process of the Vidya Samunnathi Scholarship program has to be completed online at http://www.schemes.kswcfc.org/ in the relevant application cycle. Students are advised to visit the site frequently in order to stay updated with the application dates.
Similar Scholarship Options
- LIC Scholarship
- Dhirubhai Ambani Scholarship
- Canara Bank Scholarship
- Kothari Fellowship
- Haryana Scholarship
- Moma Scholarship
- MHRD Scholarship
- Punjab Scholarship
- Indira Gandhi Single Girl Child Scholarship
- Dr. Ambedkar Scholarship
Thus, a program like the Vidya Samunnathi Scholarship plays a pivotal role in supporting the educational needs of economically backward individuals. If you are planning to apply for any of the above-mentioned scholarships but have some queries or apprehensions, you can contact us at Leverage Edu and get all your doubts cleared by our expert mentors and counsellors. Call us immediately at 1800 57 2000 for a free 30-minute counselling session.