Kerala Governor Inaugurates ‘One School One IAS’ Scheme for Underprivileged Aspirants of IAS, Competitive Exams

KOCHI:
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan today launched Vedhik Erudite Foundation’s ambitious scheme to provide free coaching for civil services and other competitive examinations to 10,000 meritorious but financially weak students across the state.

“This higher education platform will give the children a chance to completely redecorate their future plans and broaden their horizons totally, rewriting their value capital,” Khan said, declaring open the ‘One School One IAS’ programme, being implemented with the support of sponsors.

Actor Manju Warrier made the first sponsorship declaration, hailing the Vedhik Erudite Foundation’s Scholarship Programme. To begin with, she adopted 10 girl students across Kerala by meeting their coaching expenses for civil service exams.

The Governor pointed out that to serve as a civil servant is a dream every young mind in India carries from a very early stage. But many of them do not know where to start and what it takes to achieve this goal. A subsequent relocation to big cities entails huge expenses, he noted. “For the first time in the country, we have the ‘One School One IAS’ programme that is set to produce at least one civil servant from all schools of India. Coming from rural and semi-urban areas, they will be mainly from government and aided schools.”

The Governor, over video conference, joined the function held at Grand Hyatt in Bolgatty Island of this city. Other addressees at the ceremony, which was presided over by Vedhik Erudite Foundation Chairman Dr J Alexander, were Syro Malabar Catholic Church Major Archbishop Cardinal Mar George Alencherry, Foundation Directors Dr Alexander Jacob, and Shankar Bidari, Vice Chairman Dr Babu Sebastian and Secretary James Mattam.

The function was addressed online by Vedhik Erudite Foundation Patron Dr C V Ananda Bose and Director Dr Muhammad Basheer.

Dr J Alexander, former Chief Secretary and Cabinet Minister of Karnataka, said the novel initiative envisages equipping students with not just preparing for the civil services but other competitive exams as well. The Academy, which focuses on aspirants from rural areas, will start grooming them from the high school level, he added.

Dr Alexander Jacob, former Kerala DGP, noted that a “one per cent inspiration” was crucial for a civil services aspirant to come out successful. “No student who is keen to join the IAS, IPS or clear similar competitive exams should suffer owing to lack of funds,” he said in his keynote address, revealing that he has given training to 525 such aspirants. The ‘One School One IAS’ is a pleasantly inverse case of the ‘Mountain going to Mohammed’, Dr Jacob added, referring to the famed proverb.

Bidari said the ‘unique coaching programme merits emulation in other parts of the country. “More such attempts will help create an egalitarian society with harmony,” he added.

Today’s function saw the signing of MoUs between Vedhik Erudite Foundation and five leading educational institutions of Kerala.

Foundation Vice Chairman Dr Sebastian welcomed the gathering, while Mattam proposed a vote of thanks.

Vedhik Erudite Foundation is helmed by India’s top academics and retired IAS and IPS officers. They include Dr Jacob, Dr Bose (who is a former Kerala Chief Secretary and UN Consultant), Dr Sebastian (former VC of MG and Kannur Universities), Dr Basheer (former VC of University of Calicut), Dr Alexander, Bidari (former DGP of Karnataka), Dr Niloufer AKazmi (former Secretary, University Grants Commission) and Mattam.

The trainers comprise Kerala former Additional Chief Secretary O P Minocha, Col (retd) D S Cheema, CMAI Association of India President Prof N K Goyal, senior IAS officer Vivek Atre and Safari channel head Santhosh George Kulangara, also a well-known globetrotter.

The Kochi-headquartered institution has an office in Delhi.