Bazm-E-Niswan grants scholarships to 4,146 students

Vasudha Zora NT

Bengaluru: Bazm - E - Niswan Charitable Trust distributed scholarships to Muslim girl students in Bengaluru on Sunday. There were 5,200 applicants for the scholarship, out of which 4,146 were selected based on merit and Rs 1.51 crore was spent for the purpose. The trust received 3,200 applications in 2020-2021 and it grew to 4,505 in 2021-2022.

The event was graced by President Husna Sheriff and Secretary Ayesha Nayab Ahmed. In her address Husna Sheriff said, “I had no clue how deep the problem of lack of education was until I stepped into it 30 years ago. I will only retire in a couple of years and have trained my granddaughter, Ayesha Nayad Ahmed to take over after me.”

The application procedure was made easy over the years to increase the scope for applicants. Those studying for pre-university (PUC), diploma (Polytechnic and Paramedical), undergraduation (BA, BSC, BCom, BCA, BBA) and post-graduation (MA, MSC, MCom, MCA, and MBA) are eligible to apply for the scholarship programme.

Among the scholarship recepients, 69.7 per cent of students hail from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. One of the scholarship recipients, Noor Afsha Khanam said, “I attained 99 per cent in my 10th examination and have taken up Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Maths as my PUC subjects.

They applied for the scholarship online and were selected. I want the amount to cover my medical studies because I want to become a doctor. My family is very supportive of my education and I hope I am able to achieve my dreams.”

This year, students from undergraduate programmes have been comparatively higher than post-graduate students. Around 53.9 per cent of girls opted for BCom, 19.4 per cent for BCA, and 13 percent for BBA, followed by BCA at 7 per cent and BA at 6.6 percent.

Diploma courses are also a popular choice among young Muslim girls, with the trust receiving Computer Science related courses at 19.1 per cent and demand for paramedical courses at 68.1 per cent of applications.

“When the number of women had taken a dip, we hold counselling sessions, and the number soon increases. Most parents did not support the idea of educating their girls, but times have changed now and now more and more parents are involved in their children’s academic life,” Husna Sheriff said.

“My sister runs the Danish Education Trust, named after my son, which aims at providing scholarships for expensive and technical courses, majorly medicine and engineering courses,” she added. Started in 1971, the trust offers aid to Muslim girls through scholarships to continue their academics and become independent and successful women.

Since its foundation, Bazm-E-Niswan has provided over 67,000 scholarships. The function was held at the Indian Builders Corporation, Diamond District, on the HAL Airport Road.