NEW YORK: Kerala Hindus of North America (KHNA), a Malayalee Hindu organization based in Los Angeles, has announced a Scholarship program to provide financial assistance to bright and economically disadvantaged students of Kerala.

KHNA Board of Trustees Chairman T.N. Nair said that the Trustee Board has constituted a scholarship committee consisting of eminent community members from various parts of the country to administer these scholarships. KHNA scholarships are provided entirely by community support. Most scholarships are sponsored by individuals and families in memory of a loved one.

Nair wants more corporate sponsors to come forward and sponsor scholarships. KHNA President Dr Ramadas Pillai requested all families in North America to sponsor at least one scholarship each. If enough sponsors come forward no deserving student would have to abandon studies for lack of funds, he said, adding that KHNA was planning a major fund-raising and awareness campaign for scholarships.

He hoped Hindu organizations and temples in Kerala would devote a portion of their income to support Hindu students.For the 2006-07 academic years, KHNA awarded fifty scholarships to students in their first year of professional courses.

These scholarships shall be renewed for the second year depending on the satisfactory academic progress of the students. In addition KHNA plans to award new scholarships to students in the first year of the academic program. Each scholarship shall be a sum of $250 per year. It shall be renewed depending on the academic progress of the student and funds availability, till the student completes the course of study to a maximum of 4 years.