Special scholarship for girls

BHUBANESWAR: Special scholarships will be provided to deserving girl students in the State by the Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF) from this academic year. This was announced by executive director of SOF Mahabir Singh at the launch of Special Girl Child Scholarship here on Sunday.  Speaking on the occasion, Singh said the SOF would provide financial assistance to girls from economically weaker sections to enable them continue with their school education. Every year, as many as 75 girls will be provided the scholarship money of `18,000 for one year. Nominations for these scholarships will be received through schools and 75 deserving candidates will be selected for the scholarship grant.  The annual awards for the National Science Olympiad (NSO) were also given away to students of various districts on the occasion.  Singh said considering the enthusiastic response from schools and students towards participating in NSO, the foundation has decided to organise State-level Olympiad from this academic year in addition to the National Olympiad.   Among others, Justice R K Patra, Chairperson of Orissa Human Rights Commission, Director of IIT, Bhubaneswar Madhusudan Chakraborty and VC of OUAT Debi Prasad Ray were present on the occasion. Established in 1998 by academicians and scientists with an aim to popularise Science, Mathematics, Computer and English education, the National Science Olympiad is being organised every year in different schools across the State by SOF.