"Enthurai Scholarship Program for the Needy & Able Youth"

A Project by Enthurai Members for 2009-10

Dated: August 1, 2009

Introduction:

Enthurai, a registered Not-For-Profit organization, officially formed in 2007 by the children of eight villages – Erayumanthurai, Poothurai, Thoothoor, Chinnathurai, Eraviputhenthurai, Vallavilai, Marthandanthurai and Neerodi – and their families, presently living and working in the United States of America, with the objective of building a bond between one another and the eight villages, is committed to work for the betterment of the people in the eight villages.

Enthurai Constitution suggests, Enthurai was “formed to support social, educational, and cultural activities that enhance community development in the eight villages in Tamil Nadu, India, through offering educational loans/scholarships for the needy and deserving; Providing job oriented trainings to youngsters; Creating employment opportunities for social and economic mobility; Promoting cultural and recreational opportunities for the youth; Helping with employment arrangement, training and certification in India.”

Some of the objectives Enthurais is committed to include “Providing educational loans/scholarships for the needy and deserving; Providing job oriented trainings to our youngsters; Creating employment opportunities for social and economic mobility; Promoting cultural and recreational opportunities for the youth; Helping with employment arrangement, training and certification in India.”

Background of the Project:

At our Fourth Annual Meeting held at Peekskill, NY, on July 18-19, 2009, members of Enthurai have identified and decided to undertake a Project called, "Enthurai Scholarship Program for the Needy & Able Youth."

According to Article VIII of the Constitution, towards the development of the fisher people in the eight villages in Tamil Nadu, India, Enthurais intends to provide grants/loans to promising but needy students so that they can complete their studies meritoriously. “These and other services, we may provide directly to clients or through church-based and other social networks, such as St. Vincent De Paul Society, Coastal People’s Organization, who are already providing similar services to the needy people in the region.”

As the Constitution suggests, “Our policy will be based on the need of the person or organization and that fits our objectives and goals, contributing to the realization of the mission of Enthurai. Once the individual or organization has been chosen to receive our grants/assistance, there will be an agreement entered into, that specifies our requirements, including proof of need, method of selecting recipients, monthly report of the progress, and a detailed annual report with accounts of the money spent on the project. In addition, our members will visit the region periodically to assess the impact of the project on the beneficiaries.”

Accordingly, for this year, 2009-2010, the members of Enthurai have identified Coastal People’s Organization (CPO), which appear to match Enthurais’ objectives and goals, contributing to the realization of the mission of Enthurai.

Details of Enthurai Scholarship Program for the Needy & Able Youth:

Understanding the social and economic conditions prevalent in the eight villages, Enthurai members want to reach out to the youth in our villages who have completed their Higher Secondary School level studies or Under-Graduate/Graduate level studies, and are unemployed. Many of them, both boys and girls, have the talents, intelligence, and motivation, but are not able to go for higher studies and idle away their time and talents. Many such youngsters end up into groups that socially and culturally negative in character, feeling a burden to them and to the larger society.

On the other hand, Enthurai is aware that our community is not well represented in the Government and Banking sectors, for example. Finding jobs in such key institutions, locally and nationally, can have broader consequences and implications not only for the candidate but also to the larger community, especially while concretizing the community of the various schemes and programs that are available, and to ensure that such benefits and programs adequately reach our people.

Towards this end, Enthurai members want that we are able to identify and support such promising candidates in obtaining the required trainings and skills to sit and succeed in Competitive Exams such as that will qualify them for Jobs, for instance, in the Government and/or Banking Sector.

The Modalities of Operation:

Towards implementing the Project, Enthurai has decided that for the year 2009-10 Year (July 1009 to June 2010), CPO recommend the names of such prospective candidates and the members of Enthurai make the final selection of such candidates, who will be the final beneficiaries of the Project.

o Candidates coming from low/no income families, widowed or disabled parents will be given preference over the others

o The grants and loans will be based on the availability of funds and the need of the candidate. 

o Availability of such loans will be made known to prospective candidates through CPO. Candidates will be chosen after scrutinizing them on their ability to pursue studies and the economic condition of each student. The application process and review will be transparent and meet the criteria of Enthurai.

o Each prospective candidate must send via email, through CPO, a write-up about themselves; family, education, goal/ambitions etc.

o Profiles will be reviewed by the members of the General Body and their feedback is obtained in seven days after being circulated

o Before sending the profile to the General Body, in order to maintain anonymity of each candidate, we will have all personal info removed

o Final Selection of the candidates will be done during a Conference Call called by Enthurai President, which is expected to be attended by all the members of the Project Review committee, consisting of Ajay, Antony, Justin, Sheen, Tad, Benedict, Frank, & Tomy

o The Project will be reviewed in 6 months for its success, deficiencies and for further modifications

o The Scholarship per candidate varies from one to the other, depending on the type of the Exam one is preparing for and the duration of the Training/Course.

o Accordingly, we intend to offer Rupees 15,000 to Rupees 30,000 per candidate towards a course or training that will run from Two to Six months.

o Enthurai has decided to provide Scholarship to up to Eight students, one from each village, who are promising but needy in order that they can complete their studies/training meritoriously. If more money is available, we are able to choose more than one candidate per village, based on the criteria detailed in the Project.

Conclusion:

While we are aware that there is no guarantee that theses students find jobs immediately, we urge that we are able to identify and finalize candidates who are truly motivated and committed to succeed against all odds and have a proven record of hard work, intelligence and dedication to tasks assigned.

Before assigning students to Institutions, it’s the duty of CPO to assess and verify the quality of the Training being offered at the Institutes and the Rate of Success, especially the number of students passing the Exams after attending the trainings and the Percentage of Marks obtained.

Each candidate who receives support from Enthurai will be on the list of Enthurai’s beneficiaries and a relationship established will be ongoing, encouraging her/him to succeed in life, and become a responsible citizen, contributing to the growth of the community.

CPO agrees to provide Progress Reports on each candidate chosen, especially their attendance rate and completion of all requirements in a given time, while undergoing the Training.

Enthurai envisages that after these students get trained, we are able to use them to train other prospective candidates.

As per the Constitution, once the grants have been made, there will be a procedure established to verify if the grants have been used for the purpose for which they were given through independent assessors, through direct contact with the beneficiaries, wherever possible. Since the area of operation is limited to a small region, supervision, review, accountability, and follow up are easily possible, and Enthurai intends to do them very faithfully.

All Correspondents Towards the Implementation of the Project Be Addressed to:

Ajay Ghosh

President, Enthurai

705 Thorme Street

Bridgeport, CT 06606

Phone # 203-374-7427