Bangalore: Quality and affordable education are 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 Ccholarship Programme, 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 programme supports students from Grade XI 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 programme: “At SFPI, we believe education is the greatest equaliser 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 one lakh 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 at 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.”
Impact
So far, the Vidyadhan scholarship programme 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/11th-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 one to two years, 100 per cent of the scholarship recipients’ families have broken out of poverty. The program also positively impacts up to three family members through financial support, educational help, and career guidance for siblings. Around 60 per cent of graduates are now primary breadwinners, 82 per cent have seen better career prospects and 87 per cent report increased respect for their families in society.
Vidyadhan’s impact so far includes 5 per cent of specially-abled students, 90 per cent from rural areas, and 60 per cent girls, reflecting its strong focus on inclusivity and equity. Over 4,000 alumni are employed in top organisations 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, where individuals and corporations can fund students’ education, with 100 per cent 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 organisation share 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 per cent transparent, with zero administrative costs to sponsors and a 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 that deserving youth gain access to opportunities. With technology, partnerships with state departments, and a focus on scale, Vidyadhan is helping build a more equitable society, one student at a time.