Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Awards Vidyamritam Scholarships to Seven Rural Students, Advancing UN Sustainable Development Goal 4

Vidyamritam extends Amma’s vision of educational equity by enabling students from Live-in-Labs® communities to pursue undergraduate education in science, commerce, and social work

AMRITAPURI, Kerala, India — Reinforcing its commitment to inclusive higher education and sustainable rural development, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham has awarded Vidyamritam Scholarships to seven deserving students from villages connected to its globally recognized Live-in-Labs® Program. The scholarships will enable the students to pursue undergraduate degree programmes at the university, ensuring that financial hardship does not stand in the way of academic potential and opening pathways to long-term empowerment and social mobility.

The Vidyamritam Scholarship was initiated by Amrita Chancellor Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (Amma) in 2007 and is administered under the aegis of the UNESCO Chair on Experiential Learning for Sustainable Innovation and Development through the Education Thrust Area Group (TAG) of the Amrita School for Sustainable Futures (ASF).
Launched to ensure that financial hardship never prevents deserving students from continuing their education, Vidyamritam initially supported children from economically distressed farming families affected by the agrarian crisis. Over the years, the initiative has expanded to benefit thousands of students from underserved communities across India. The undergraduate scholarships awarded through the Live-in-Labs® Program continue this vision by enabling talented rural youth to pursue university education at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham.

From Community Partnership to Educational Opportunity
For many of these students, the journey to university began long before they submitted an application. Through the Live-in-Labs® Program, Amrita students and faculty have worked alongside rural communities to co-create sustainable solutions addressing challenges in education, healthcare, water and sanitation, agriculture, livelihoods, renewable energy, disaster resilience, and environmental sustainability.

The Vidyamritam Scholarship represents the next chapter in this long-standing engagement. By investing directly in the educational aspirations of students from communities where the university has cultivated enduring partnerships founded on trust and collaboration, Amrita is transforming community engagement into educational opportunity. Beyond supporting individual students, the initiative nurtures future professionals, leaders, and changemakers equipped to contribute to the sustainable development of their own communities.

Meet the 2026 Scholarship Recipients
The 2026 Vidyamritam Scholarship recipients represent five Indian states and have demonstrated remarkable determination, resilience, and academic promise despite challenging socio-economic circumstances. They will pursue undergraduate degree programmes across science, commerce, and social work.

For each of these students, the scholarship represents far more than financial assistance. It is an opportunity to pursue higher education, broaden their horizons, and create lasting positive change for themselves, their families, and their communities.
Through the Live-in-Labs® Program and the Vidyamritam Scholarship, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham continues to demonstrate how universities can serve as catalysts for inclusive development. By expanding access to undergraduate education for students from underserved rural communities, the university is investing in future scientists, educators, social workers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders who will contribute to building a more equitable and sustainable society.
As these seven scholars begin their undergraduate journey, they carry with them not only personal aspirations but also the confidence and opportunity to create lasting change within their communities. Their stories affirm a simple but powerful truth: when talent is matched with opportunity, education becomes one of the most effective pathways to sustainable development. Through Vidyamritam, Amrita continues to ensure that deserving students are empowered not only to transform their own lives but also to shape a more inclusive and sustainable future for generations to come.