Thu Sep 04 14:14:41 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the article, followed by a rewritten version in a news article format:
**Summary:**
Raju Kendre, a tribal youth and alumnus of TISS and the University of London, is seeking financial support to sustain and expand his Eklavya India Foundation. For the last eight years, the foundation has been empowering disadvantaged Dalit and tribal youths from across India by providing access to quality higher education and career guidance. The foundation has helped thousands of students gain admission to prestigious universities and secure scholarships. Kendre himself overcame significant educational barriers and now aims to provide opportunities for other marginalized youth to break the cycle of poverty and become community leaders. The Foundation has helped 500,000 underprivileged Dalit and tribal youths from over 25 States, and seeks additional funding to establish a permanent institution in central India to better serve the tribal population.
**News Article:**
**Eklavya India Foundation Seeks Support to Expand Educational Opportunities for Tribal and Dalit Youth**
**MUMBAI, September 4, 2025 (The Hindu)** – Raju Kendre, founder of the Eklavya India Foundation, is appealing for increased financial support to expand its work in providing quality higher education and career guidance to disadvantaged Dalit and tribal youth across India. Kendre, himself a tribal youth who overcame significant barriers to achieve academic success at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) and the University of London, has dedicated the last eight years to empowering marginalized communities through his foundation.
The Eklavya India Foundation has so far reached 500,000 underprivileged Dalit and tribal youths from over 25 States. It has helped thousands of students gain admission to leading national and international universities, securing over $7 million USD in scholarships.
“Our mission is empowering the under-represented Indian communities by dismantling education and career barriers, cultivating equitable leadership, fostering social mobility, and building a just society,” said Kendre. The foundation’s work has transformed the lives of countless first-generation learners, like Nazar Mohideen from Kerala and Eknath Wagh from Maharashtra, both now pursuing postgraduate studies at Harvard University.
Kendre’s own journey, marked by early hardship and a near dropout from university due to lack of support, fueled his passion for creating change within his community.
The foundation’s current annual expenditure is Rs 1.5 Crore, largely funded by fellowships and small donations. Kendre hopes to secure larger corporate sponsorships to establish a permanent institution in central India, an area with a high tribal population and limited access to quality education. “We want to start a central institution in central India… For that, we need good institutional support and mechanism,” he said. The Eklavya India Foundation aims to break the cycle of poverty and empower marginalized communities by providing access to education and opportunities.
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