Kochi, Apr 24 (UNI) Kerala-based Santhigiri Ashram has decided to institute an endowment in the name of former President K R Narayanan to assist financially underprivileged youth in the state to prepare for the Civil Services examination.

The K R Narayanan Endowment would be formally inaugurated by Mr T K N Nair, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, in June.

Ashram General Secretary Swami Chaitanya Jnana Tapaswmi told UNI here today that through the K R Narayanan Endowment, the ashram would provide assistance to the tune of Rs one lakh to three deserving candidates to prepare for the Civil Services examination.

Final year degree students would be eligible for selection to this.

''Through this Endowment, Santhigiri Ashram is paying tribute to Mr K R Narayanan, who, from the pit of deprivation, raised himself to become the President of India, through hard work and intellectual capabilities,'' he added.

Kerala earlier contributed substantially to the Indian Administrative Service. However, in recent times, the presence of state's youth in the services had come down.

In another initiative in the education sector, 'Guru Mahima', the young women's organisation of Santhigiri Ashram, had initiated the 'Utharasree Free Education Programme' from this academic year.

UNI ARC SJ AE DS1457