Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and industrialist Ravi Pillai distribute scholarship check to the beneficiaries during the ‘Dr. Ravi Pillai Academic Excellence Scholarship’ program held at Nishagandhi Auditorium, Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday. | Photo credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN
The ‘Dr. Ravi Pillai Academic Excellence Scholarship’ will provide ample opportunities for academic achievement, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
He was speaking after inaugurating a scholarship distribution function at Nishangandhi Auditorium here on Wednesday.
The Chief Minister today said that the education sector in Kerala is a role model for the country. However, the state had a dark phase when the right to education was denied to many. The struggles of social reformers and national, progressive and political movements led to the creation of a united Kerala in which the first government led by EMS Namboodiripad abolished fees to make education free up to upper primary. The second EMS government also made free secondary education possible. Government interventions in the higher education sector have also paved the way for the development of education in the state. Following this effort, the government has decided to make education free up to graduate level, the chief minister said.
He urged the students to be vigilant against attempts to promote caste-religious enmity. Students should retain their humanity and work for the good of society. They must resist drugs and pledge not to engage in substance abuse, he said.
First phase
In the first phase, scholarships of ₹10 crore will be distributed among 1,501 students. An amount of ₹525 crore has been earmarked for the program for the next 50 years, which was introduced by industrialist Ravi Pillai as part of corporate social responsibility.
The Chief Minister noted that although Mr. Pillai was a prominent name globally, the scholarship program for students was a testament to his ties with the state. According to him, the scholarships would help students from economically weak backgrounds achieve higher education.
The scholarship will be awarded by Dr.Ravi Pillai Foundation in collaboration with NoRKA Roots to students from high school to professional colleges. At the higher secondary level, 1,100 students will get ₹50,000 each. As many as 200 undergraduate students will get ₹1 lakh each and 200 post-graduate students will get ₹1.25 lakh each.
Revenue Minister K. Rajan presided over the function. Mr. Pillai, who is also the Director of NoRKA, and NoRKA Executive Vice-Chairman P. Sreeramakrishnan were present.
Published – 11 Feb 2026 20:53 IST