Odisha’s BIPF Body Honours Recipients Of Professor Ghanashyam Dash Scholarship

Bhubaneswar: The Bansidhar & Ila Panda Foundation (BIPF) on Friday felicitated the recipients of the Professor Ghanashyam Dash Scholarship for Higher Education (PGDS) for the 2025–26 academic year, to expand access to quality education for meritorious students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.

This year’s cohort includes four medical students—Chumki Jena (AIIMS Bhubaneswar), Annapurna Chakrabarty (SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack), Gyana Ranjan Behera (Shri Jagannath Medical College and Hospital, Puri), and Dhableswar Pujari (Saheed Laxman Nayak Medical College and Hospital, Koraput)—along with Naba Jyoti Giri, who is pursuing a B.Tech in Computer Science at the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela.

Instituted in 2005 by IMFA and named after noted historian Professor Ghanashyam Dash, the scholarship aims to bridge financial barriers to higher education. Each recipient is eligible for funding of up to 90 per cent of academic fees and associated expenses, with support capped at Rs 6 lakh over a four-year course. Since 2016, the programme has been administered by BIPF.

Beyond financial assistance, the foundation has strengthened the initiative through UTSAAH, a structured mentorship programme offering 20 modules of coaching and virtual engagement. The curriculum focuses on academic excellence, leadership development, mental well-being, digital and artificial intelligence skills, career planning, and social competencies.

Congratulating the awardees, Shaifalika Panda, Trustee and Founder CEO of BIPF, said education has a multiplier effect that extends beyond individuals to families and communities. “By supporting meritorious students and equipping them with leadership and adaptive skills, we aim to nurture future enablers of national and social progress,” she said.