One student. One academic year. Six recognitions.
We are a new foundation with a small amount of evidence. Here is all of it, including the caveats.
What happened when the fees stopped being a problem
Abantika was in Class IX at a government middle school in the Bhandisahi area of coastal Odisha. Bright, and by every account relentless — but in a household where each academic year began with the same arithmetic about what could be afforded.
In 2024 that arithmetic stopped. Her costs were taken on in full, and the commitment was made for the duration rather than the term.
Over the 2024–25 academic year she won first place in the long jump, second in the 200 metres, third in the debate competition on Independence Day, and third in an international Mother Language Day essay competition. She went on to represent her school at the district-level Prerana Utsav at PM SHRI Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Konark.
At the end of the year she was named Student of the Year.
2024–25 in full
| Recognition | Event | Level |
|---|---|---|
| 1st place | Long jump competition | School |
| 2nd place | 200 metres running competition | School |
| 3rd place | Independence Day debate competition | School |
| 3rd place | International Mother Language Day essay competition | School |
| Participation | Prerana Utsav, PM SHRI Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Konark | District |
| Student of the Year | Annual award | Awarded via InvestSphere |
Certificates for each of the above are held on file and shown in our gallery, with the student's surname and school redacted.
Three caveats we would rather state ourselves
One student is not a result, it is a start. A single case proves nothing statistically. We are publishing it because it is what we actually have, not because it demonstrates a model. Ask us again in three years.
This work predates the foundation. The 2024–25 sponsorship and the Student of the Year award were run under the banner of InvestSphere, before Manas Dalai Foundation was incorporated in March 2026. The foundation was created to carry this forward properly — we are not claiming credit for it as an entity.
We did not cause the achievements. The running, the debating, the essay — that was her. What sponsorship did was remove the reason she might not have been in the room. That is a smaller claim, and a truer one.
Our roadmap
First sponsorship
One student, full costs, coastal Odisha. Six recognitions in a single academic year.
Foundation incorporated
Registered as a Section 8 company limited by guarantee. Licence No. 182113.
Expand cohort one
Grow from one sponsored student to a first proper cohort, concentrated in Odisha and Maharashtra.
Tax registrations
Secure 12A and 80G registration so that donors receive tax relief, and file CSR-1 so we can accept corporate CSR funding.
Second pillar live
Open the health and welfare pillar with community camps, then publish our first annual impact report against real numbers.
Until 80G registration comes through, donations to us are not tax-deductible, and until CSR-1 is filed we cannot receive corporate CSR funds. We would rather tell you that plainly now than have you find out at the end of the financial year. Both are in progress; this page will be updated the day each is granted.
Be part of cohort two.
We are looking for sponsors, corporate partners and people with time. All three are useful.