RMTS – Where are we today?

RMTS(Rural Math Talent Search) started in 2003 with an exam run by Institute of Mathematics and Applications(IMA). The 1st 30 scholarships were donated by me and the first batch students get scholarships which continue to be donated in my father’s name.

The first year, 2003, approx 3700 students participated.
In 2004 it went down to about 1400 students
In 2004 it went up to Approx 4700
In 2004 it registration went up to 24 thousand but only 19,992 participated, due disruption for flood. Thus this year we moved the RMTS 2007 Test exam to November 11th.
This year 30 thousand students from all over Orissa, had registered in this effort. But again We do not know exact participation as some coastal area schools got closed due to the threat of hurricane Sidr.
Dr. Dhanada Mishra helped a lot in boosting the participation. Nearly 30% was obtained thorough our association with Pratham via Dr. Dhanada Mishra’s recent association with them.

The exam date was first moved from September 10th last year to November 11th to avoid floods but still natural hazard in form of Hurricane disrupted some centers in North Orissa.

We have declared this year that we will award 201 scholarships, with each of the same value of Rs. 1500 / year but due devaluation of the $$ by about 12% we have to raise extra money for the same. We are presently awarding about 500 scholarships, 30 in 2003, 102 in 2004, 165 in 2005, 201 in 2006. They get the scholarships till they graduate from the schools.
The 2003 batch will go out of school this year. The scholarships will up to 700 this year.
And next year to about 900, with at least 201 .

Since last few years we have encouraged some in India to donate 2 scholarships each. Some of my old friends have started donating to this fund. We are getting a few thousand rupees that way per year amounting to about 25 scholarships every year.

This year has been a banner year for us – crowned by the selection of Himalaya Senapati in the Indian Team to Ukraine and winning a silver medal, there. But for the RMTS program it is most unlikely that Himalaya Senapati could have made it to the India team. In the previous 15 years only a single rural kid could get into the Orissa team. And none were in Indian team EVER.
On the negative side though we are getting distributed over various blocks evenly, rather trying to we have not covered all. And there we need to develop contacts and enthusiasts for secondary education. In my opinion to bring secondary education to a even keel we need more consorted efforts and some foray in to experimental science and English. The Pratham project L2R, R2L are going to set the foundation stone soon for education and our association/partnership with them will bear fruit soon.
Budget for the year:
700 scholarships @ Rs. 1500 = Rs. 1,050,000 @Rs.38/$ =Approx $27600
(we have Rs. 3 lakhs in hand at BBSR, with Vikas which will pay for about 201 in scholarships)
(Note: We have to raise 201*1500=301500 or about $8000 of new donation for which I need support.)
Addenda:
In addition I support a Spelling Bee/Vocabulary contest in the six coastal districts since 2003 (Annual expenditure about Rs. 22000 in prizes and 10 thousand in expenses, which was run last few years in association with the Diocese of Cuttack and New Stewart School), which came to SEEDS with me.
I also supported Anjali Program with Sruti Mahapatra’s for physically disadvantaged kids (Rs 12thosand per year for six scholarships) for last many years.
I also pay Rs.15 thousand towards payment of Vikas Charitable Trust office/year.
The last three, I pay. It also passes through SEEDS and Vikas account.
Best wishes,
Sandip