KATHMANDU: Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) Thailand and Civil Initiative entered an agreement to set up a Civil Scholarship Fund to support the needy students from the disadvantaged communities with the main objective to enhance positive effect on the school enrollment, attendance, learning outcomes, reducing the drop out and repetition rates and promoting the school cycle completion rate.

With a view to promote the scholarship fund, Mega Bank Nepal and Civil Initiative signed a memorandum of understanding that Mega Bank Nepal Ltd shall donate a sum of Rs 300,000 per year, initially for five years, according to Khagendra Raj Dhakal, President, NRNA Thailand.

As announced on June 14, the scholarship will be awarded to the students between Grade VIII and Grade XII with the principle of inclusion. In order for sustainability of the scholarship fund, the students shall be supported from the bank interest of the Endowment Funds, he added.

NRNA Thailand has already contributed a sum of Rs 3.6 million. This amount has been deposited in the fixed deposit account at Mega Bank Nepal Ltd. A ‘Civil Scholarship Fund Guidelines, 2017’ have been developed containing the scholarship eligibility criteria.

The scholarship shall be allocated to the earthquake affected districts for the first five years. “For the first year the project will be implemented in Dolkha and Gorkha districts, for 40 students, with 20 students in each district as pilot project and the following years minimum 100 students will be awarded the scholarship each year. The scholarships for the first batch will be granted by the first week of October.”

The Scholarship Determination and Implementation Committee comprises educationist Hemanta Raj Dahal as coordinator and Khagendra Raj Dhakal (Scholarship Promoter), Motikala Subba Dewan (Advocate and Educationist), Pralhad Karki (Educationist), Ramesh Khadka (Media Representative), Representative of Ministry of Education as member and  President/Representative of NRNA Thailand as Ex-officio Member.