1st January 1970
Over 100 Students Benefitted from VISL-IOK’s ‘Utkarsh’ Scholarship Programme
Chitradurga, Karnataka: Fueling the dreams and aspirations of the youth and providing them with financial assistance to achieve their dreams, Vedanta Iron and Steel Limited (VISL) – Iron Ore Karnataka (IOK) organized the Vedanta ‘Utkarsh’ Scholarship distribution ceremony at Block Education Office, Chitradurga. Over 100 students from across 22 villages in Chitradurga were awarded with the prestigious ‘Utkarsh’ scholarship 2026. The initiative marks another milestone in Vedanta’s commitment to fostering academic excellence and empowering the youth of Chitradurga.
The event was graced by Shri. Sampath Kumar, Block Resource Coordinator (BRC), Chitradurga District as the Chief Guest, along with Mr. Shrishaila Gouda, CEO, VISL-IOK, Mr. P. Narayan, Head-Corporate Affairs, Ms. Shivani Singh, Dy. CHRO, government officials, schoolteachers, scholarship awardees, parents and Vedanta executives.
This year, VISL-IOK received an overwhelming response with over 180 applications for the scholarship. Out of these, 108 candidates were found eligible based on the rigorous selection criteria. The recipients included 33 SSLC students, 26 PUC students and 49 Graduation students. Around 12 lakhs amount was disbursed through the ‘Utkarsh’ scholarship event.
Shri. Sampath Kumar S., BRC, Chitradurga District and Chief Guest at the event addressed the students at the event by stating, “Our youth are the future of the nation, and the Vedanta ‘Utkarsh’ Scholarships are helping them dream bigger and move forward with confidence. VISL‑IOK’s commitment to education and community development is truly commendable. It is inspiring to see students from rural backgrounds being given this opportunity. I wish all of you success in your future endeavours. Stay passionate, stay focused and don’t stop till you achieve your dreams!”
Shri. Shrishaila Gouda, CEO, VISL-IOK also addressed the students at the scholarship ceremony. He stated, “‘Utkarsh’ represents progress and the spirit of moving forward. Through Project ‘Vriddhi’, we are enabling students to pursue their aspirations with confidence. It is inspiring to see young talent from rural communities excel across diverse fields, and we remain committed to nurturing their growth and development.”
The event included the ceremonial lighting of the lamp and an invocation, followed by addresses by the Chief Guest, dignitaries, scholarship distribution and sharing of experiences by the scholarship awardees.
Sahana, Resident of Muthugaduru village and beneficiary of the ‘Utkarsh’ scholarship expressed her gratitude to the company, “I am currently pursuing my B.E. in Computer Science at Jain Institute of Technology, Davanagere. Receiving the ‘Utkarsh’ scholarship for the first time has been a truly special experience for me. It has eased my financial burden and helped me continue my education with confidence. I aspire to become a Software Engineer, and this support has brought me one step closer to my dream. I am deeply grateful to VISL‑IOK for this opportunity.”
Ganesh, a final-year Engineering student at UBDT College, shared, “Receiving the Vedanta ‘Utkarsh’ scholarship for the first time has been a truly encouraging experience. It has given students like me the confidence to pursue higher education without financial stress. This support has brought me closer to my dreams, and I am sincerely grateful to VISL‑IOK for empowering my journey.”
The ‘Utkarsh’ scholarship is part of VISL’s larger CSR commitment to the holistic development of communities in and around Chitradurga. VISL-IOK has so far fuelled the dreams and aspirations of over 1,400 students in Karnataka with the ‘Utkarsh’ scholarships. The company has contributed to community welfare through various interventions in the field of Education such as ‘Back to School’ initiative, construction of school compound walls, dining halls, donating school bus, construction of sanitation block, providing RO water facility and so on. By investing in education, VISL aims to nurture the future leaders and innovators of tomorrow.