“Building capacity dissolves differences. It irons out inequalities.”
– DR. A.P.J. ABDUL KALAM
Sashakt Scholarship is a one-of-its-kind initiative to encourage young women across India to prepare for and pursue a career in science. It provides a level playing ground to girl students, especially from rural India and low socio-economic backgrounds, to get access to quality education in some of India’s best science institutions by offering financial support and mentorship throughout their undergraduate studies.
The scholarship covers all three years of study towards earning a B.Sc. degree.
With a lead woman scientists as mentor, the scholars are guided through the crucial stages of their education, apart from having a role model for a career in science.
Limited scholarships available, for students securing admissions in any of the 12 listed science colleges.
The scholarship award is Rs 2,40,000 (Rs 80,000/year) for three years of study, which covers the college tuition fees, study expenses and basic living costs.
Why Sashakt Scholarship?
1.
Encourage and support young, academically bright girls to pursue science studies.
2.
Address the attrition of girl students in science during transition from school to college.
3.
Financially empower rural and economically challenged girls to access the best science education in India.
4.
To contribute more women scientists as mentors and achievers to India and the world
About Dr Reddy’s Foundation
Dr Reddy’s Foundation is a not-for-profit organization set up in 1996 to enable socially and economically vulnerable groups to take control of their lives. We develop and test innovative solutions to address complex social problems and promote the scaling up of impact by leveraging partnerships. We work with Children, Youth (including persons with disabilities), Women and Households across 18 States in India.
Our Founder’s Vision
Dr Kallam Anji Reddy, founder of Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, was a renowned scientist, entrepreneur and philanthropist. About a decade after setting up Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, he was encouraged by the possibilities of helping others to also reap the benefits of India’s economic growth. He started Dr Reddy’s Foundation in 1996, with the vision of assisting disadvantaged youth to have access to quality education and developing skills to keep pace with modern day challenges. It is in keeping with his vision that we are facilitating this opportunity for young girls to become scientists.
Founding Donors
The Sashakt Scholarship programme is set up in honour of the philanthropist couple, Radha Sasisekharan and Viswanathan Sasisekharan, who have both dedicated their lives to the advancement of education and science in India. They are especially keen on empowering women to step out of the shadows and contribute actively to the country’s scientific dialogue and research.
RADHA SASISEKHARAN has been a motivating and driving force behind the education of many children and young adults, including those from under privileged backgrounds. Her support has gone far beyond financial assistance, as an active mentor to many. As a strong believer in women’s empowerment, she has championed the careers of many young women.
VISWANATHAN SASISEKHARAN, a world-renowned Biophysicist, is known for his pioneering contributions to the structures of biopolymers. In 1962, he developed the (φ, ψ) plot, which provides important information about the energetically allowed conformations of polypeptides. This work laid the foundation for a deeper understanding of protein folding and is still used to this day to validate the designs of new proteins. His later work on the structure of DNA suggested an alternative model for the Watson Crick Double Helix. V. Sasisekharan was a Professor at the Indian Institute of Science for several decades. Among the numerous national and international awards received by him is the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research’s Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology, one of India’s highest science awards, in 1977, for his contributions to the biological sciences. He has also been a Visiting Professor at Princeton University and an Adjunct Professor at the University of California, San Francisco. Apart from mentoring scores of graduate students at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, he was the Chairman of the Molecular Biophysics Unit as well as Division Chairman of Chemical and Biological Sciences at the institute.
Our Donors
- Aurigene Discovery Technologies Limited
- Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Limited
- Hyderabad Security & Offset Printers Private Limited
- Mr. Ajit Pandurang Rangnekar