OREANDA-NEWS. In line with the Tata Group's Affirmative Action Programme, which aims at upliftment of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Communities in areas of education, employment, employability and entrepreneurship, Tata Power Delhi Distribution (TPDDL) awarded scholarship to meritorious students belonging to these communities today at its learning and development centre Cenpeid (Centre for Power Efficiency in Distribution) located at Sector 11, Rohini.

The scholarship beneficiaries were 1000 students of class X-XII and belonged to 46 government schools of North & North West Delhi and their families' economic condition is not conducive for sustaining their studies. The scholarships were handed over to students by Mr. Praveer Sinha, CEO & ED, TPDDL in the presence of large number of teachers and principals of government schools of North & North West Delhi.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Praveer Sinha, CEO & ED, TPDDL said, "The Affirmative Action Programme of TPDDL focuses on four critical areas - education, employment, employability and entrepreneurship. Among these, education is perhaps the most critical one as all other goals cannot be achieved without it. Ever since our inception, we have focused on providing education opportunity to meritorious students of economically weaker section. Providing scholarship to students is step in the same direction and we are confident our endeavour will help students and their families."

Launched in 2007, TPDDL's affirmative action programme is focusing on ST& CC Students of Government schools. Besides providing scholarship, these students are constantly monitored and mentored by TPDDL so that they do not drop out and this also improves their performance. Subsequently, the same set of students is taken through a customized Personality Development Programme covering Interpersonal skills, Career counselling and Competency testing through expert NGOs. As a matter of satisfaction, most of the students who have passed out till date are pursuing higher studies or vocational training courses.

Expressing his pleasure on getting the scholarship, Priyanka D/O Jai kishan a student of Govt. Sarvodaya Co-Ed Sr. Sec. School- Kewal Park Azadpur school said, "My family income is below Rs 7,000 a month and without the help from TPDDL I would not have been able to continue with my studies. I thank them for their support."

Master Ravikant S/O Kishan Lal, a student of Govt. Boys Sr. Sec.school-1 Model Town expressed similar feelings. "It is not only scholarship which TPDDL provides us, they also help us with books, stationery items and school bags. I and my family are grateful to TPDDL."

TPDDL has been working relentlessly for upliftment of society and is running 290 Women Literacy Centers (WLCs) and 8 Vocational Training Centers. WLCs alone benefit close to 17,500 women in JJ Colonies annually. Besides this, TPDDL also conducts tutorial classes for students in its area of operation.