Shibulal Family Philanthropic Initiatives’ (SFPI) Vidyadhan scholarships for economically disadvantaged meritorious students from across India to reach 1 Lakh in next four years

Working towards preventing high dropout rates after high school among marginalised students by providing scholarships for higher education

 

The goal is to support the national vision of raising the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education to 50% by the year 2035

 

And, through organised mentoring, it also enables students to secure fulfilling careers

 

The scholarships range from Rs. 10,000 to Rs 75,000 per year, through the entire duration of their course

 

 

Bangalore, July 02, 2025: Quality and affordable education is key to the long-term growth of underprivileged students, enabling better lives and contributing to national progress. The Shibulal Family Philanthropic Initiatives (SFPI), through its flagship Vidyadhan scholarship program, is committed to this cause. Currently active in 22 states/UTs, Vidyadhan aims to reach 1,00,000 scholarships to economically disadvantaged students across all 28 states over the next four years.

The program supports students from Grade 11 through graduation, offering scholarships ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹75,000 per year. Vidyadhan also provides residential training, career guidance, and employability skills.

Kumari Shibulal, Founder and Chairperson of SFPI, shares the vision behind SFPI and its Vidyadhan program: “At SFPI, we believe education is the greatest equalizer with the power to transform both individuals and the nation sustainably. Our goal is to scale our efforts by providing scholarships and mentorship to guide students toward meaningful careers. We aim to reach 1,00,000 scholarships to meritorious, economically disadvantaged students across all Indian states.

The Vidyadhan IT platform’s transparency and the impact of the ‘Each One Teach One’ model have attracted external sponsorships, enabling faster scaling and broader reach. We believe delivering quality education to India’s 300 million students requires strong collaboration between society (samaaj), government (sarkar), and market forces (bazaar). India has challenges regarding affordability, access and awareness. We mainly address the challenges of Affordability – making education financially accessible to underprivileged groups and Awareness – promoting the value of education, especially in rural areas, by highlighting role models and providing scholarships.”

S.D. Shibulal, Co-Founder of SFPI, and Co-founder and Former CEO, Infosys highlights: “In today’s rapidly evolving Indian and global economy, where education is the only enabler of upward mobility, financial access is vital for students from less privileged backgrounds. Vidyadhan bridges this gap early on, enabling students to access high-quality education and secure positions in the higher end of the economic value chain. Scaling is critical in India due to its vast student base. By combining strategic thinking, technology, and collaboration, Vidyadhan significantly improves students’ career and income prospects. Its core mission is to economically empower those with limited means.”

THE IMPACT OF THE SCHOLARSHIP SO FAR

 

So far, the Vidyadhan scholarship program has impacted over 17,000 families across 22 states and UTs, awarding 63,000 scholarships. In FY 2024–25, it onboarded 4,900 students for post-school and intermediate education. Scholarships are offered across MBBS, Engineering, and other courses of students’ choice. We are expecting 13,000 students by the end of FY 2025-26. This number includes 3410 new students, which accounts for PU/11^th grade admissions anticipated for this year.

An IIM-K study found that Vidyadhan graduates earn a first-year salary that is three times (3x) the scholarship amount. Within 1–2 years, 100% of the scholarship recipients’ families have broken out of poverty. The program also positively impacts up to 3 family members through financial support, educational help, and career guidance for siblings. Around 60% of graduates are now primary breadwinners, 82% have seen better career prospects, and 87% report increased respect for their families in society.

Vidyadhan’s impact so far includes 5% specially-abled students, 90% from rural areas, and 60% girls, reflecting its strong focus on inclusivity and equity. Over 4,000 alumni are employed in top organizations like Volvo, Shell, Accenture, HDFC, ICICI, TCS, Wipro, Cognizant, E&Y, PWC, Dell, and Infosys, leading stable and fulfilling lives. Many alumni now serve as role models and support others’ education.

An impactful feature of Vidyadhan is its sponsorship model—individuals and corporations can fund students’ education with 100% of the amount going directly to students. There are zero administrative costs to sponsors, and they are connected one-to-one with beneficiaries. This transparent model fosters a ‘pay-it-forward’ culture, as many past recipients become sponsors themselves.

Meera Rajeevan, Chief Operating Officer, Vidyadhan, shares: “At Vidyadhan, we believe education is the most powerful transformative enabling force and the foundation of inclusive progress. We focus on higher education not just through financial aid, but also by providing training, mentoring, and counselling to help students reach their full potential. Every citizen, corporation, and social sector organization shares the responsibility of creating opportunities for our youth. Launched in Kerala in 1999, Vidyadhan now operates in 22 states and UTs. The platform is 100% transparent, with zero administrative costs to sponsors and visible, measurable impact. Our growing alumni network is now actively giving back, fostering a cycle of empowerment and change.”

A committed team of professionals, volunteers, advisors, and trustees ensures deserving youth gain access to opportunities. With technology, partnerships with state departments, and focus on scale, Vidyadhan is helping build a more equitable society, one student at a time.