Source: The Times of India/Press Trust of India

http://www1.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1028856.cms

On February 22, 2005 the Press Trust of India reported, "A US-based Sikh association has awarded 106 scholarships to the needy college students in Punjab and other states worth over $63,000 for the academic year 2005... SHDF, founded by a group of Sikh professionals in the Washington metropolitan area in 1999, has so far awarded over 300 scholarships to Sikh and non-Sikh students. Sodhi said most of the recipients face serious economic challenges with per capita family income less than a dollar a day. They will be able to 'pursue costly medical, engineering and similar professional degrees or post-graduate courses,' he added. According to Gajinder S Ahuja, secretary-general of SHDF, over 52 per cent of scholarships have gone to females students. Up to 56 per cent are from rural areas."