Infosys Foundation, the corporate and social responsibility (CSR) arm of Infosys has announced the launch of the scholarship program called STEM Stars. The programme will give financial assistance for education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).  

As part of the first phase of this program, over 2,000 girl students across the country, who intend to pursue higher education in any of the STEM fields from reputed colleges, will be given financial assistance for four years.  

In its inaugural year, the scholarship will cover National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) accredited institutes that include the IITs, BITS-Pilani, NITs, and renowned medical colleges. 

It has been observed that students are reluctant to choose STEM subjects because of the lack of access to basic facilities and monetary constraints. Keeping these factors in consideration the foundation has decided to give support to students in their tuition fees, living expenses, and study materials of up to Rs 1 lack annually for the duration of the STEM course. 

Sumit Virmani, trustee, of Infosys Foundation, said, “Poverty denies many youngsters, in India, the right to education, and girls are often the most impacted. At Infosys Foundation, we believe it is vital to support education for underprivileged girl students and to help them realize their potential. Beyond serving just the individual, we’ve seen that education for women positively impacts the schooling of their children, in turn, thus keeping opportunity disparities from becoming a generational issue. That’s why, the STEM Stars scholarship program seeks to empower aspiring girl students with a holistic educational ecosystem. We believe this is key to moving our nation forward.”  

Established in 1996, the Infosys Foundation supports programs in the areas of education, rural development, healthcare, women empowerment, arts and culture, and destitute care. Its mission is to work with the underprivileged across the country and strive towards a more equitable society. The Infosys Foundation takes pride in working with all sections of society, selecting projects with infinite care, and working in areas that are traditionally overlooked by society at large.