HINDUSTAN Education Foundation
असतो मा सद्गमय । तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय
Lead me from the unreal to real and from darkness to light
Vision
By 2030, support 1 million under-privileged families in India break the vicious cycle of poverty through the gift of education.
Mission
THE PROBLEM
These children, once employed in the informal economy, can rarely exit, and decades later, they in turn cannot afford higher education for their own kids. Thus begins a vicious cycle that is hard to break, and keeps generations of such families in abject poverty.
While myriad scholarships for underprivileged students are available in various forms, students are still reluctant to attend college, as they know that their families need financial support from their labor, leaving them with no choice but to join the informal economy. Such decision making is forced also by lack of role models and career guidance.
Sample field research interview snapshots, conducted in conjunction with Diksha Foundation at their center in Patna, Bihar (names changed to maintain privacy):
In summary:
- Education ongoing but not sure if they can make it to college
- Lack of role models in extended family and social circle
- Low visibility into professional careers
- Aspirational but despair setting in
- Expect most likely outcome to do something similar as parents – joining the informal economy
- Family living under Rs. 15,000 per month income
- Precedent already or expectation by family to support financially now (part time) or soon (leaving education)
- Parents would like their children to study but don’t think they will be able to support
THE SOLUTION
We hope to fix the root cause of the problem – the lifetime value of the student attending college should be greater than providing a source of income to the family in the short term. We will unlock this by providing the family a financial subsidy, in addition to paying for the college education, room & board, travel expenses for the student. We will fund the family & the student for the entirety of the college education timeframe typically 3 – 4 years.
Our endeavor is also to ensure that the student can find suitable employment opportunities in the organized sector, in a professional setting so that she has a path towards sustainable employment and a shot at bringing her family out of poverty.
SCHOLARSHIP
Hindustan Education Scholarship
Our program has been kicked off in Bihar (one of the poorest states of India) with a dismal record of education continuity. The enrollment rates for Bihar start lagging versus rest of the country by senior secondary school and drops quite significantly by college, especially compared to urban states such as Delhi (14% versus 45%) but even versus the India average (25%).
We plan to expand this program to other states over the next few years.
Hindustan Education Scholarship (and family financial support) grant details:
- Scholarship for up to Rs. 600,000 per year, will cover full costs for attending a nationally reputed college that would culminate in a Bachelors degree in 3 – 4 years:
- College fees, cost of boarding or lodging for the student
- Other student college attendance expenses including travel costs
- Up to Rs. 120,000 per year grant for the family
- Active mentoring of the student to ensure retention & launch professional career post-graduation
HINDUSTAN Education Scholarship basic eligibility criteria:
Hindustan Education Scholarship during Phase 1 will target students from Bihar who come from an underprivileged background meeting the following criteria:
- Under the age of 25
- In class 12th or passed class 12th already
- Cleared national competitive examination and gained a score for admission to a national university or institute of repute among the top 100 colleges & universities in India as listed below
- Family employed in the unorganized sector including but not limited to domestic helps, construction workers, day laborers, rikshaw pullers, auto drivers & other wage earners
- The annual household income of family less than Rs. 250,000
To maintain the scholarship, the student will have to continue performing well in the course & remain in good standing.
Selection process:
The student will be selected following the process mentioned below:
- Meet the basic eligibility criteria
- Student & parent interviews
- Physical verification of home address & employment of the family
- Identification, and financial proofs as required
OUR PARTNERS
We partnered with Diksha Foundation to turn the vision for the scholarship into a reality. Diksha was founded in 2010 by a group of friends who realized they were more privileged than those around at a time when Bihar’s literacy was the lowest in India at 47%. Diksha has never defined education as something that is concerned with just grades and scores in different subjects. It has tried to incorporate education with the overall development of children for their holistic growth. This has enabled children at Diksha to pursue their dreams and careers. Over the years, it has helped children from marginalized communities to get a decent opportunity in order to explore themselves.
GOVERNANCE
overseers
AMAR SINHA
NON-EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN
Ambassador Sinha is a former diplomat having served in the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) with a career spanning 35+ years. He is a former member of India’s National Security Advisory Board (NSAB), a Distinguished Fellow of Research & Information Systems for Developing Countries (RIS), and a member of the Governing Council of India Foundation. He is an active participant in think tanks focused on Afghanistan and other strategic and national security issues.
Ambassador Sinha served as Secretary to the Government of India for Economic Relations, having been appointed in June 2017. His portfolio included relations with all countries in Africa, Gulf and West Asia Region, Development Partnerships, Trade and Investment Promotion and all multilateral economic work including BRICS where he served as India’s sherpa. He previously served as India’s Ambassador to Afghanistan in Kabul from 2013 to 2016. Earlier in his career, he was Ambassador to Tajikistan and also served in Indian missions in Washington DC, Brussels, Jakarta, Buenos Aires and Algiers. Ambassador Sinha was Joint Secretary for Trade Policy in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry from 2010 to 2013, where he handled the WTO and other trade negotiations. He also oversaw India’s participation in various multilateral fora such as UNCTAD, APTA, BIMSTEC, G20, BRICS and IBSA.
He currently serves as a Director on the Board of IFFCO Tokio and has previously served as a Director on the Boards of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (HPCL), EXIM Bank and Barefoot College. He is an Economics Graduate from Patna University. He speaks Hindi, English, French and Spanish fluently and is familiar with Dari (Persian). His interests include reading, travel and sports.
PRABHAKAR
Mr. Prabhakar is a former Indian Police Service officer of the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territory) cadre. He served as Joint Commissioner of Police, Licensing & Licensing Authority for the Delhi Police and is the recipient of the President’s Medal for Meritorious Services (2007) and President’s Medal for Distinguished Services (2014). Mr. Prabhakar has also served as Deputy Inspector General in the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Prabhakar served in the capacity of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for the East District of Delhi. He also served in multiple roles with the Delhi Police including taking on responsibility for Police Traffic and the Economic Offences Wing.
Mr. Prabhakar served as the Security Liaison Officer for the Indian Cricket Team’s visit to Pakistan, and also as a United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Officer in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He holds a Masters in History from Patna University.
RAMAKRISHNA KV
Mr. Ramakrishna has 28+ years of experience with 26+ years of experience in Venture Capital / Private Equity – Kotak PE, Carlyle Group & ICICI Venture. He was most recently the CEO of Kotak Private Equity, the Private Equity arm of Kotak Mahindra Group, where he was responsible for managing various growth funds with AUM of over $700mn.
Prior to joining the Kotak Mahindra group, Mr. Ramakrishna had stints with Carlyle Asia Venture Partners (CAVP), the Carlyle Group’s technology-focused fund, and ICICI Venture, the PE and VC arm of the ICICI Group. Post his graduation, Mr. Ramakrishna worked for two years at the Management Services Division of Tata Motors, India’s largest automobile company.
His investment experience spans across Life Sciences, Technology, Retailing and Services and has developed a strong network in these segments. He actively participates on the Boards of his portfolio companies and has helped them scale the businesses while managing growth.
Mr. Ramakrishna is a Computer Science and Engineering graduate from the National Institute of Technology, Warangal and is a Post Graduate in Management from IIM, Bangalore. He currently advises few funds and corporates in their growth strategies.
Mr. Ramakrishna believes in simplicity and helping the needy, the traits he picked up from his father. He has been doing his bit in educating poor children, particularly girls, with focus on imparting effective primary education. He is a Trustee of their family trust – Kunisetty Subba Rao & Suseela Devi Charitable Trust, with focus on elderly poor in rural areas around Warangal and also helping poor children in completing their professional courses. He is also the Chairman of abhaya Foundation, a Hyderabad headquartered NGO focusing on education and empowerment.
BOARD OF ADVISORS
SURABHI TOMAR
Surabhi Tomar is a former tech entrepreneur based in Bengaluru, India with experience working in the United States and India. She is a leader in the non-profit sector working in the field of mass entrepreneurship and environment. She works in Tier 2 / 3 cities of India and has a special connection with rural India through her work.
She is part of a nationwide organisation with presence in almost every district in India. The organization has led many mass campaigns related to the environment that many millions of Indians from all walks of life have supported. She believes that education and exposure lead to opportunities that uplift people out of poverty.
UTKARSH SINHA
Utkarsh Sinha is the Managing Director of Bexley Advisors – a boutique investment bank focused on the Tech, Media and MSME sectors. He is also the VC Anchor for iSpirt, leads IMC’s Start-up Committee and is the former Convenor of IAMAI’s FinTech Committee. Utkarsh is a graduate of MIT and Oxford, and formerly worked at BCG, Bridgewater Associates and Moelis & Co. in Boston, Connecticut and London.
Bexley Advisors is a boutique investment bank focused on early stage deals in the tech, media and MSME sectors. It empowers young companies, supporting them their through strategic advisory and fundraising journeys. It also helps mature funds expand their LP capital base.
AKSHAY VERMA
With 13+ years of professional and entrepreneurial experience, Akshay worked as an investment banker in London before moving back to India to deep dive into his entrepreneurial adventures. Educated at St.Stephen’s College, University of Oxford and Columbia University, Akshay is consistently identified as a young business leader, and is frequently invited to top business schools such as London Business School, Oxford, Columbia, IIMs, XLRI, Symbiosis, etc. to share his experiences. A sportsman and debater in his university days, Akshay has worked with several social initiatives in the past and continues to do so today in his spare time.
In his past life as a Investment Banker in the Leveraged & Acquisition Finance and Private Equity Group at UBS Investment Bank, London, his focus area included origination and capital markets execution of leveraged loans, investment grade loans and high yield bonds for private equity and corporate clients across industry sectors, currencies and EMEA jurisdictions. With expertise in business and credit analysis, strategic proposals and stakeholder relations and a strong skill-set in building and maintaining complex financial models, identifying key drivers and offering tailored business solutions, Akshay set up Agratam India – a globally recognised award winning social venture operating in Bihar that converts unproductive waterlogged lands into profitable fish farms. Akshay also co-founded a unique online information discovery platform (Skillhippo) which he wound up to build FITPASS – India’s largest full stack app-based fitness and lifestyle product offering a universal fitness membership to 5500+ gyms and fitness studios along with A.I. led coaching plans, personal nutritionist assistance and more!
R BADRI PALANIAPPAN
Mr. Palaniappan is the Chairman and Managing Director of SRP Group of Companies based out of Chennai, India. SRP Group’s flagship company SRP Tools Ltd. was a pioneer in gear cutting tool manufacturing industry and has many firsts to its credit such as the first company to get ISO Certification in India in the early 90’s, the first Indian supplier to Boeing Inc. among others.
SRP Tools was sold to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. in 2004 and today the Group has diversified into Real Estate Development, Hospitality, Manufacturing of Defense Components, Agricultural Equipment and Investment Management.
Prior to his current role, Badri worked with a New York based middle market investment bank. He had joined the bank after he completed his Masters in Business Administration from Sam Houston State University, Texas. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from University of Madras.
He is a Director in SRP Gears Pvt. Ltd, SRP Prosperita Hotel Ventures Ltd. , Subramanian Engineering Ltd., Profile Gears and Engineering Pvt. Ltd. and Subramanian Investments Pvt. Ltd.
SHAILESH KOCHHAR
Shailesh Kochhar is a technologist with over 15 years of experience in building successful software products. He has worked as both a technical founder and an engineering leader leading large teams. His career has spanned big tech organizations such as Google and Amazon and startups ranging from seed to $5 billion in value. Over his career, he has repeatedly started with husks of ideas and supplied design, planning, team leadership, implementation and resilience to launch and scale successful products unlocking immense value.
Most recently Shailesh worked with ShareChat, one of India’s largest social networks as Director of Machine Learning. In the past he co-founded and was CTO of Houzify. A technologist, startup enthusiast and investor his career has spanned technology organizations of all sizes in the private and public sectors. He is a volunteer member of iSpirt, a not-for-profit technology think tank, and holds a BS/MS joint degree in Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.
FOUNDER
AISH SINHA
Aish is very interested in poverty alleviation, and he explored the causes of poverty of his home state of Bihar, India in an article on this topic in 2018. As he started exploring the reasons for the state’s condition further, he realized that the inability to complete higher education, and particularly the non-substitution of the foregone family income, is at the heart of the inter-generational vicious cycle which keeps families in poverty.
CONTRIBUTE
You can help by supporting this initiative by contributing to Diksha Foundation towards Hindustan Education Scholarship here:
If you would like to volunteer with us, start a local chapter, or become a patron by joining our Founder’s Circle, Director’s Circle, Board of Overseers or Board of Advisors please reach out to us at contact@bharateducation.info.
ELIGIBLE COLLEGES OF INDIA
Qualifying institutions – top 100 universities & colleges of India according to Social Capital Gateway (European Research Institute on Cooperative & Social Enterprises)
https://www.socialcapitalgateway.org/content/ranking/top-100-universities-and-colleges-india