By P.T. Bopanna
With a view to promote excellence among young Kodavas (Coorgs) from disadvantaged backgrounds, retired IAS officer from Chennai, P.M. Belliappa (in picture), has created an endowment fund of Rs 50 lakhs to “identify bright sparks and fast-forward their career”.
An MOU was signed on Saturday at Madikeri to create the Pemanda Monappa Endowment Fund for Excellence.
The Endowment created in perpetuity, with a Corpus of Rupees 50 lakhs, will be to be managed and administered by the Coorg Education Fund (CEF), headed by well-known educationist K.P. Uthappa.
Speaking on the occasion, Belliappa, who held key posts both in Tamil Nadu government and the Centre, said: “Human progress has always depended on the contribution of few individuals. It is hoped that the scholarship awarded under this Endowment, established in the name of my father, the late Pemanda Monappa, a proud son of Kodagu, known for his unflinching integrity and commitment to public service, will enable bright Kodava youth, to pursue their dreams and achieve goals they have in mind.”
Pemanda Monappa is the only Police Officer to date to have held the highest position, in three States, of inspector general of police (IG) (now designated as director general of police), the only one those days.
The accruals from the Fund will be used for providing Scholarships only to students who have finished XII Standard, with distinction (first class). Scholarship/s shall be available to pursue higher studies in any one of the following subjects / courses.
a. English.
b. Any Science course.
c. Any Technical course.
d. Training in Sports, including athletics.
e. Any Coaching Scheme for NEET or entry into Civil Service examinations.
The scholarship shall be available to any Kodava male or female student.
A student who has one of the parents an ethnic Kodava shall be eligible to be considered for the Scholarship.
Belliappa, who is known for his philanthropic activities
through the Foundation set up in the name of his father, has already established the ‘Pemanda Monappa Scholarship’ in perpetuity, in Cambridge University which will enable one student from the southern states of India to pursue a Masters Course.
Belliappa, during his tenure as an IAS officer, was awarded the two-year Homi Bhabha Fellowship at Cambridge, where he worked at the Centre for South Asian Studies.