Mangaluru: The Konkani Cultural Organisation Trust (R) (KCO), Abu Dhabi in association with the Samanvaya Trust, organised the Disbursement of Student Scholarship 2018 at the Centenary Memorial Hall, St Joseph’s Inter-Diocesan Seminary, Jeppu on Sunday, August 12.

The scholarship disbursement programme is an altruistic activity of the KCO and the Samanvaya Trust and is done annually in the month of August. This year, scholarships worth a total Rs 9 lakhs were given to 57 PUC and degree students from financially weak backgrounds.

At the start of the programme, the MC, Fr. Ronald Cutinho of the Samanvaya Trust gave the gathering a brief introduction about KCO, Samanvaya Trust and about the scholarship programme. He then introduced the president of KCO, Michael D’Silva and general secretary of KCO, Leena D’Souza and request them to take their seats on the dais along with the other members of the KCO.

A Konkani hymn was sung to invoke God’s blessings before commencing with the day’s proceedings.

The programme was then inaugurated by various office bearers of the KCO including the president, Michael D’Silva and general secretary Leena D’Souza, by lighting the traditional lamp.

Michael D’Silva, who was also the president of the programme, welcomed the gathering – which included the scholarship students, their parents, KCO members and their families – to the event and invited other prominent members of the KCO onto the dais.

“This scholarship programme has been conducted successfully since the year 2004. Over the years a total of about 445 students have been benefited by this programme. Our wish is that this programme will benefit many more students.”, said Michael D’Silva, adding that he is happy as, after all these years of struggling, sacrificing and collecting the money, they are able to make good use of this money by helping others.

Each of the dignitaries on the dais was then given a rose as a welcome after which, three students who have been receiving the benefit of the scholarship programme for two years or more expressed their gratitude and spoke about how the scholarship helped them in their student career and reduced their family’s financial burden.

Following this, the scholarship cheques were handed to those of the 57 students who were present.

Michael D’Silva was once again called upon to deliver a meaningful message to the students, as the president of the event. Addressing the students, he said, “These scholarships that you hold in your hand… this money may not be enough to meet all of your expenses but, you have to make good use of it and spend it well because the members have struggled, sacrificed and pooled the money to distribute it to you. You should use this money in a good way and it should benefit you and your family, this is our wish.”

Fr. Ronald Cutinho compered the programme and Leena D’Souza delivered a vote of thanks.

The programme was then concluded with the singing of the National Anthem following which, photos of the scholarship recipients and the KCO members were taken to immortalise the special occasion.

After the official programme, lunch was served to all the beneficiary students, their parents and all those who attended the program.