Against all odds

Updated on: Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Rakshabandhan for Education (RFE) organised its fifth Medha Award Ceremony on August 21 at the MN Saha Auditorium.

Two hundred students, who proved themselves a winner in spite of thousand obstacles, were appreciated in this program. Dr Abhijit Hazra, President RFE, gave the welcome address. Thereafter the audience was addressed by the guests of honour. As one of them said, RFE is an “academic platform for students”.

Manas Kr Bhunia, resident scholar, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Sciences, said, “RFE is a concept”.

It was started by Dr Abhijit Hazra to help poor students continue their studies. Later his son, Dr Saugata Hazra took up responsibility for RFE. Every economically backward student, who wants to study, is donated Rs 500 per month. “This year we helped 160 students of standard 11 and 12.”

RFE has helped more than 750 students in the last five years. After their Class XII, RFE helps them to get admission to colleges and universities. “We arrange for the students to study for free.” The money given to the students is donated by the scholars and faculty involved in doing research in the different institutes.

This year RFE gave coaching classes to the students for the Joint Entrance Examination. RFE plans to make a hostel for the students so that they have no accommodation problems if they want to stay in Kolkata and study. RFE is also making a book bank and is supporting a school Rakshaskhali Kajal Lata Sishu Sikha Niketan, in South 24 Parganas, from 2007.

RFE helps economically backward students from all over West Bengal.

Against all odds

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