Samavesh Scholars Program

From the margins to the mainstream—with mentorship, scholarships, and NEP-recognised pathways.

Samavesh
Centre Samavesh Scholars Program After-School Program Samavesh Champions

Our Programs

Program Overview

Samavesh Scholars is a flagship higher education mentoring and capacity-building program that enables students from low-income, marginalised, and first-generation learners to access, succeed in, and graduate from top Indian and global universities. This is an effort to make higher education more inclusive and representative, we support students from marginalised communities in accessing premier institutions in India and abroad.

The program provides end-to-end mentoring and scholarship application support, while also equipping students with life skills, academic capacity, and leadership development necessary to thrive in college and beyond.

It operates across three key verticals:

Undergraduate Scholars Batch

Postgraduate Scholars (India) Batch

Postgraduate Scholars (Abroad) Batch

At the heart of the program is a 60-hour NEP 2020-aligned curriculum that builds career readiness, self-confidence, and personal agency, making students eligible for formal academic credit under NEP guidelines.

The Problem We Are Addressing

Students from low-income, marginalised communities and first-generation learners in India have historically been excluded from the benefits of higher education due to structural, social, and economic barriers.

According to NSSO 2014 data, the participation of SC, ST, and other deprived communities in premier higher education institutions remains alarmingly low.

The Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (GMPI) identifies education as one of the three dimensions where marginalized communities consistently lag, directly contributing to intergenerational poverty.

Even when students from these backgrounds manage to enter college, they often lack the support systems, networks, and skills that privileged peers have—leading to high dropout rates, poor mental well-being, and limited career pathways.

Representation in higher education is not just about access—it is about preparedness, belonging, and success.

Why It Matters

Access is only the beginning.

True equity means enabling students to excel, graduate, and lead with confidence.

Students need:

Informed mentorship to navigate complex admission and scholarship processes

Academic and emotional support to handle the pressures of competitive institutions

Career guidance and life skills to transition from college to meaningful employment

Samavesh Scholars bridges these gaps—by providing not just entry, but also the tools, confidence, and clarity to belong, succeed, and lead.

What We do

A) Samavesh Scholars

Samavesh Scholars is a mentoring program for higher education that provides an integrated model of academic mentoring, entrance preparations, financial aid navigation, and skill-building for students from marginalised communities.

Our work is structured around three core pillars:

1. Mentorship & Scholarship Support

To make higher education more inclusive and representative, we support students from marginalised communities in accessing premier institutions in India and abroad.

Mentor for entrance exams like APU, TISS, Ashoka, CUET, and international universities like LSE and Oxford

Personalised mentoring for college and course selection aligned with students' aspirations and social justice values

Guidance on scholarship applications, financial aid, and government schemes

Mentor with writing Statements of Purpose (SoPs), preparing for interviews

Post-admission transition support to help students adapt to new academic environments

Focus on self-awareness, career clarity, mental well-being, and transforming lived experience into academic purpose.

Capacity Building

Key focus areas:

Life Skills & Leadership Development

Career Awareness & Goal Setting

Academic Skills: Academic Writing, Critical Thinking, Research writing, digital tools, time management

Mental Well-being & Emotional Intelligence
Internships

3. Long-Term Support Ecosystem

We ensure that students not only access college but also succeed and thrive within it.

Ongoing mentorship and coaching through college years

Access to peer learning circles, alumni networks, and exposure opportunities

Connections to internships, fellowships, and career development programs
Referrals for mental health counselling

Samavesh Scholors

Testimonials

What do our fellows say

"Samavesh didn’t just help me get into college—it helped me find my voice. Through their mentorship, I built confidence, navigated the process, and learned to believe I belonged in spaces I once thought were out of reach. I was awarded an ₹80 lakh Government of India scholarship and received guidance that helped me secure admission to the London School of Economics."
Siddhant Maitreya (Wardha), Samavesh Scholar, Master of Public Policy, LSE

Our Impact

Our Numbers tell the tale

Scholars Enrolled

Students mentored and coached in our year-long in-person mentoring program.

Students completed our NEP 2020-aligned 60-hour curriculum

on life skills, career awareness and mental well-being

₹1.3 Crore+

Unlocked Indian Scholarships

by supporting students from Grade 11 through postgraduate levels to access existing Indian government schemes, trust-based grants, and scholarships at prestigious national and international institutions.

₹5 Crore+

Unlocked international scholarship

As part of our effort to unlock existing international scholarships, we supported postgraduate students in securing funding through government schemes, private trusts, and prestigious global institutions to pursue higher education abroad.

Strategic partnerships

with government departments, universities, funding organisations, and NGOs to deliver program components.

from Affirmative Action Groups

The majority of students belong to SC, ST, NT-DNT, OBC, PWD, or low-income households.

Mentors Mobilised

Engaged national and global mentors with lived experience for academic, career, and personal guidance.

Cumulative mentoring hours

through our yearlong mentorship program.

Academic Streams

Science (42%), Commerce (31%), Arts (27%)—diverse subject representation.

Parental Education Levels

None (18%), Primary (24%), Middle (20%), Secondary (15%), Higher Secondary (12%), Undergraduate (9%), Postgraduate (2%)—reflecting intergenerational educational gaps.

Caste-Wise Representation

SC (36%), ST (14%), NT-DNT (12%), OBC (25%), General/EWS (13%)—prioritising equity and representation.

Workshops Conducted

Sessions on entrance prep, career planning, mental health, and leadership skills.

Pathways Supported

Undergraduate, Postgraduate (India), and Postgraduate (Abroad) guidance.

Hours of Capacity-Building per Scholar

Training in academic writing, digital literacy, life skills, and leadership.

How Samavesh Scholars Advances the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Locally Rooted. System Aligned. Impact Driven.

SDG 4: Quality Education

Provides NEP-aligned mentoring, life skills, and academic support to marginalized students.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

Ensures access to higher education and leadership pathways for SC, ST, NT-DNT, OBC, PWD, and low-income youth.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Equips students with career readiness, internships, and long-term professional development.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

Promotes inclusive participation and targeted support for women and girls in higher education and leadership.

Who We Are

Samavesh is a rights-based organisation and grassroots movement committed to inclusion, equity, and opportunity.

We work with marginalised communities to bridge the gap between policy and people, enabling access to social security, education, and livelihoods.

Samavesh Centre