Vidyadhan Scholarship Program
Transforming Lives Through Education Since 1999
Vidyadhan is a comprehensive higher education scholarship initiative by the Sarojini Damodaran Foundation (SDF), part of the Shibulal Family Philanthropic Initiatives. It supports meritorious students from economically disadvantaged families across India, providing financial aid, mentoring, and career training from Grade 11 through graduation.
About Vidyadhan
The Vidyadhan Scholarship Program identifies talented students after the completion of 10th grade/SSLC through a rigorous selection process that includes an online test and interview. Currently, the program supports approximately 13,000 students across 22+ states and union territories in India.
Selected students receive scholarships ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹75,000 per year, depending on the state, course, and duration. Beyond financial support, Vidyadhan emphasizes holistic development through mandatory mentoring programs, residential training on life-skills, career orientation, and employability coaching.
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"Nation building is a collective responsibility. Come be our partners in this journey. Together, we can transform lives." — Kumari Shibulal & S.D. Shibulal, Founders
Eligibility & Selection Process
Who Can Apply?
- Indian citizens who have completed 10th grade/SSLC
- Students from economically challenged families
- Meritorious academic record
- Open to all genders and categories
Selection Stages:
Scholarship Benefits
Financial Support
₹10,000 – ₹75,000/year from Grade 11 through graduation, depending on course and location.
Mentoring Programs
Mandatory mentoring to guide students through academic and career challenges.
Skill Training
Residential training on life-skills, career orientation, and employability.
Exam Coaching
Online coaching support for selected students appearing in competitive exams.
How to Apply
FREE Students can apply directly on the official website at no cost. No other person or institution is authorized to select students on behalf of Vidyadhan.
Step-by-Step Application Process:
- Create a personal email account (do not use cyber café/DTP centre emails).
- Register on Vidyadhan with your name, email ID, and a secure password (minimum 8 characters).
- Click "Apply Now" and activate your account via the email link sent to you.
- Login with your email and Vidyadhan password.
- Select the appropriate scholarship program and fill out the application form.
- Upload mandatory documents and photograph to complete your submission.
- Check your email regularly for updates and communications from SDF.
Impact & Achievements
Key Impact Metrics:
- 3x scholarship amount recovered as first year's salary
- 100% of beneficiary families out of poverty within 1-2 years
- 82% of scholars felt a significant increase in career potential
- 87% reported increased respect from family members
- 60% of alumni likely to become primary breadwinners
- Up to 3 family members positively impacted per scholarship
"Vidyadhan has some of the best results a scholarship program can offer." — Prof. (Dr.) Priya Nair Rajeev, Assistant Professor, IIM Kozhikode
Our Journey
Started with 2 students in 1 state (Kerala) with 2 scholarships.
Expanded to 2 states, supporting 700 students with 4,500 scholarships.
Reached 10 states with 4,300 students and 17,300 scholarships.
Grew to 17 states/UTs, 7,700 students, and 41,000 scholarships.
22 states/UTs, 13,000 students, and 63,000+ scholarships awarded.
Aiming for 26 states/UTs, 15,000 students, and 78,000 scholarships.
Recent Awards & Recognition
Humanitarian Excellence Award 2025
Presented by the I Can Foundation on India's 79th Independence Day (August 15, 2025) in New Delhi by former Coal Minister Shri Santosh Bagrodia.
FKCCI Award 2025
Award of Excellence in Education and Skill Development (NGO Category) at the FKCCI India CSR & Sustainability Conference, presented by Karnataka Home Minister Shri G. Parameshwar.
Success Stories
"Today I am seen as a role model by the other girls in my village, who seek to pursue professional education. I decided to pursue engineering at Bangalore when the norm in my village was to send girls to nearby degree colleges or get them married."
— Apoorva P Bhat, Vidyadhan Scholar & Engineer
Notable Alumni Achievements:
Vidyadhan alumni are now working with leading organizations including Infosys, TCS, Wipro, Accenture, Cognizant, HDFC, ICICI, Volvo, Shell, Dell, E&Y, and PWC.
Sponsor a Student
Vidyadhan operates on the principle of "Each One Teach One." With external sponsorship, the program has scaled faster and reached students across many more states. Your contribution can give wings to the dreams of a brilliant student and transform the lives of multiple generations.
"We have the right partner in Vidyadhan in taking our mission to the next level of transforming lives." — Alexander Verghese, COO, UST
Contact & Helpline
Vidyadhan Helpdesk
📞 +91 96635 17131 / +91 80 6833 3500
Active Working Hours: 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM (All Days)
🌐 www.vidyadhan.org
© 2025 Vidyadhan - Sarojini Damodaran Foundation (SDF). All Rights Reserved.
An initiative of Shibulal Family Philanthropic Initiatives (SFPI)
