Scholarships from India coming soon

With over 200 training courses for the taking, Vincentian professionals are being urged to make use of the opportunity offered to Caribbean nationals by the Government of India.{{more}}

On a three-day visit to St. Vincent and the Grenadines last week, Indian High Commissioner Ashok Kumar Sharma announced that his country is aiming to send five Vincentians to institutions in India, where they would improve their skills in areas ranging from computer technology, small business management and entrepreneurship, to journalism and health care.

Sharma mentioned that the courses are intense, ranging from one month to one year long.

The Suriname based diplomat stated that although persons employed with the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines are preferred for the courses, applicants from the private sector can also apply.

While here, he met with representatives of the Ministry of Education and the Service Commissions Department, in an effort to create greater interest in the courses among public servants.

According to Sharma, the courses are fully funded by the Government of India, and the certificates and diplomas issued are internationally recognized.

The former Indian Consul General in St. Petersburg, Russia, indicated that the Indian government had offered scholarships annually since the early eighties, but the offers had been picked up here sporadically.

Last year, two Vincentians, Jannis Deane and Lenroy Thomas, went off on brief courses in web page designing and agronomy, respectively.

Deane, visiting Searchlight Newspaper with the High Commissioner, defined the experience as rewarding,

and hopes that other Vincentians would make use of the opportunity.

Sharma, also the High Commissioner to Barbados and St. Lucia and Ambassador to Suriname, left here on Sunday. He is expected to return next month for a meeting with the Vincentian/Indian Association. (JJ)