10,000 aid each to over 400 students

BELAGAVI: The saying "where there is a will, there is a way" holds good for Belagavi deputy commissioner N Jayaram, who has been helping meritorious students from poor financial background. He has been donating Rs 10,000 each to poor students who approach him for help. Starting the initiative the previous year, he helped 408 students who passed SSLC or PUC with distinction.This year, Jayaram aims at helping about 45 students. The DC is planning to organize a programme at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi on June 16 to distribute the amount among students. This year, the DC will also help children of policemen below the rank of sub-inspector who score over 80% in SSLC and PUC.
Jayaram does not use government funds to help poor students, but raises money through donations from individuals, business houses and organizations. Jayaram said found it difficult to arrange over Rs 4 lakh as the number of students seeking help had crossed 400. But the positive response from donors made the job easy. "There are quite a number of people who want to contribute provided the cause is genuine," he said.
Jayaram said that he has asked the social welfare department to prepare a list of meritorious students in government hostels. "Once the MLC elections are over, I will start contacting donors," he said.
"People may think that Rs 10,000 is a small amount, but for the students from rural areas and poor families, it is really a big amount," Jayaram said.