Annual Report 2012-13

Background:

The DISCON Vocational Loan Scholarship (VLS) Project was started in the year Rotary 2010-11. The DISCON Committee, under the leadership of the then District Governor Dr. Jayant Kulkarni and Chairman Sharad B Shah, made this project possible, by donating Rs. 4,56,412/-. The Club also contributed Rs,1,00,000/- in 2010-11, when Milind Kanekar was the Club President. The committee decided to decided to use this amount over 4 years, starting from 2012-13.

We made a small beginning by offering VLS to Ms. Archana Karode, who was pursuing MBA in Social Service. 2 students, both sons of Autorikshaw Drivers were awarded the Scholarship in 2011-12.

Year 2012-13:

The project gathered momentum during the year 2012-13. With the help of Rtn. Ravindra Ranade (RC Badlapur Industrial Area), news item about VLS was published in a few newspapers. Our past member Ganesh Rai, generously offered to provide his “Deepak Lunch Home” to receive the forms. Since it is located just opposite the main entrance of Mulund Railway Station, it was very accessible and convenient for the students.

We received about 150 applications. The applications received from all over Mumbai, Thane and even from remote locations like Palghar, Nasik and Ratnagiri.

The committee scrutinized the applications. 27 students were short-listed and called for a personal interview, along with their parents. 24 Students appeared for interview, which were held on 15^th August 2012, at SMPR School. Open invitation was given to all the Club Members to attend these interviews. Many members participated in the process.

12 students were selected for receiving the scholarship. Following points were also taken care of, when selecting the students.

· Variety of Vocational Streams (Not Just Engineering or Medicine)

· Different durations of Courses (1, 1.5, 2,3 and 4 years)

· Academic Record was not the only criteria. Overall family background and suitability for assistance was considered.

· Preference was given to courses with normal fees (rather than courses where fees was quite high), so that more number of students can be accommodated.

A list of these students was prepared and circulated among the Club Members. Their response was generous, spontaneous and swift. Within 4 days of the announcement, the amount of promised donations, exceeded the target. The committee wishes to record its gratitude to all the members who have donated for this project (List attached). We also specifically thank Vinod Chopra, Arvind Tibrewala (Chairman, Fund Raising), Club President Manmohan Agrawal and Ashwin Khemka (Trustee) for their efforts.

The students were handed over the Scholarships, during our OCV (Official Club Visit of the District Governor) on 28^th August 2012.

One student Dasharath Shirke has got admission to Bunts Sangh’s College of Hospitality Management. Due to the efforts by Dr. V.D. Shetty, he received a concession of Rs.20,000/- in his fees. We are thankful to Dr. Shetty.

Since we had surplus funds at our disposal, the committee went through all the applications once again. One more student was then selected to receive a scholarship of Rs.25,000/- thus taking the total number of students selected during 2012-13 to 13.

A get together of these students was held on 27^th June 2013. It was attended by many of our members. Each student informed about her/his progress during 2012-13. They also interacted informally with our members. Student Dinesh Sawant, who has completed his engineering and is joining his job in Banglore was felicitated at this get together.

Milestones in 2012-13:

· Our First Student Archana Karode got employed in an NGO MelJol. She was working with BMC Schools in Mumbai Central. She has now been selected to work at All India Level guiding other such projects.

· Archana has made her first repayment. She presented the cheque for Rs.8,000/- to President Manmohan Agrawal.

· Dinesh Sawant completed his B.E. in Information Technology and joined employment in Bangalore.

· Dinesh wants to start the repayment as soon as he starts receiving his salary.

· Lavanya Gawandalkar completed First Year of Diploma with pointer 8.3 (83%)

· Babu Teli secured 81% Marks in Second Year Mechanical Engineering Degree from Datta Meghe College. He stood first in his class.

· Avinash Abhale secured 70% Marks in Second Year Electrical Engineering Degree Course. He stood fifth in his class.