Narayan Naik, a retired teacher from Dakshina Kannada, a district in Karnataka, is known as the Scholarship Master. His initiative strives to provide educational scholarships to school and college students for pursuing higher studies.
Narayan Naik, a teacher from Dakshina Kannada, is renowned as the Scholarship Master. He is running a unique campaign where he grants scholarships to students from financially weaker background. His initiative strives to provide scholarships to school and college students for pursuing higher studies.
Who is Narayan Naik?
Narayan Naik is a resident of Karpe village of Bantwal taluk of Dakshina Kannada. His father used to work as a farmer due to which Narayan faced challenges to pursue his education. His father could not afford to pay his school fees after grade 5, but Narayan did not lose his spirits. He was inspired to continue his studies, and his persistence prompted his parents to work harder to support his education. He shares that when his father suggested discontinuing studies, he went on a hunger strike, ultimately prevailing and continuing his education.
Narayan’s teaching career
Narayan Naik holds MA and BEd degrees in Kannada and Hindi. At the young age of 20, he started his career as a primary teacher. In the year 2001, he retired from his service after 38 years of work. He lived with his children and grandchildren. Narayan chose to dedicate his time to students and became actively engaged in social work.
Government scholarships
Narayan shares that his personal experiences with financial hardships inspired him to launch the initiative of providing scholarships. He had a desire to help other students undergoing similar difficulties. When he started the campaign, he learned about the scholarships that are offered by the government and private institutions. He realized that many students are not aware of these educational benefits.
Criteria for scholarships
There are certain criteria according to which the scholarships are offered. Narayan prioritizes students from government schools who excel academically. He understands the financial circumstances of these students and verifies their academic performance.
Offering scholarships
Narayan Naik mentions that every institution offers scholarships based on specific criteria. He highlights Dyuti Foundation and Suprajit Foundation provide around Rs 16 lakh in scholarships annually. In the last 20 years, over one lakh students have benefitted from scholarships totalling approximately Rs 5 crore. He shares that he used to cover a distance of 16 km on foot for reaching school, and he does not want any student to go through that. His goal is to support economically disadvantaged students.
Pensions
Narayan earns Rs 40,000 as pension and dedicates half of it to supporting students. He is financially independent and wants to give the same independence to the youth. He accompanies students to schools and contributes in any way he can. His ultimate goal is to ensure that every child in the country has access to education.
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