Tata Steel Foundation’s Jyoti Fellowship Enhances Educational Opportunities in Meramandali
– A total of 103 students have been awarded the fellowship
Narendrapur, [29.04.2025] – To foster inclusive growth in the region, the Tata Steel Foundation has been contributing to the promotion of education among students from villages surrounding the Tata Steel Meramandali plant. One of the initiatives aimed at this goal is known as the Jyoti Fellowship.
Started in the mid-1970s and rebranded in 2004-05 as the Jyoti Fellowship, this initiative has been pivotal in shaping the futures of young students across Tata Steel’s operating locations. It has also been crucial in driving education among rural and underserved youth around Tata Steel’s operations for decades.
The Jyoti Fellowship offers financial assistance to meritorious students from economically underserved SC/ST families, enabling them to achieve their academic and career goals. The programme caters to students from Class VII through post-graduation, covering a variety of professional courses such as LLB, B.Ed, Hotel Management, BBA, BCA, Polytechnic, Forestry, Agriculture, and MBA. Selection involves a merit test for students entering Class VII and first-year graduate students, with annual renewal contingent on maintaining a minimum of 45% marks.
In 2024, Tata Steel Foundation Meramandali awarded the Jyoti Fellowship to 17 deserving students. In 2025, the number of students who participated in the merit test increased to 176, with 86 students awarded the fellowship. A total of 103 students have received the fellowship so far in the Dhenkanal and Angul districts.
One of the recipients of the fellowship is Nibedita Priyadarshani Naik, a Class VIII student from Manpur village studying at Government High School in Mangalpur. She expressed her joy in receiving the fellowship, as it will help cover her tuition fees. Having qualified through a merit test, she aspires to become a doctor and give back to society.
The students come from various Gram Panchayats, including Nuahata, PP Kote, Nuagaon, and Sanjapada in the Angul and Dhenkanal districts. As part of the fellowship, an amount of Rs. 6.69 lakh was disbursed among the bright students. The initiative has been instrumental in addressing gaps in education by promoting extra classes, support, and guidance from subject-matter experts, enabling the fulfilment of aspirations among the children.
Similarly, Krushna Kisan, a Class VIII student studying at Government High School in Kusupanga, shared his excitement about receiving the award. He is thrilled to have won the fellowship among so many students. The assistance will help him purchase essential study materials, and he is determined to study well so that he can continue to qualify for the fellowship in the coming years.
The Jyoti Fellowship champions educational inclusion and equips students with avenues to achieve their goals.
