Sri Vijaya Puram, July 31: A talented student from the Andaman & Nicobar Islands has appealed to the Andaman & Nicobar Administration for support after being selected among the final 20 students from across India for Phase II of Mission ShakthiSAT India, A Historic Mission to the Moon, an initiative of Space Kidz India under the SKISTAR Foundation.
Sujata Lall, the only student from the Islands to secure a place in the prestigious programme, has urged the Administration and the Education Department to extend financial and logistical assistance to help her participate in the next phase of the mission.
The nationwide selection process evaluated participants on merit, passion for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), curiosity, commitment and overall potential. Sujata’s selection places the Andaman & Nicobar Islands among a select group of states and Union Territories represented in the national-level initiative.
However, participating in programmes on the mainland often involves significant travel and accommodation expenses for students from the Islands due to their geographical isolation. In this context, Sujata has appealed for official support, stating that such assistance would enable her to represent the Islands with pride on a national platform.
Her selection has also highlighted the need for institutional backing for students from the Andaman & Nicobar Islands who qualify for prestigious national and international academic, scientific and innovation programmes. Timely assistance from the Administration would not only help Sujata pursue this opportunity but also send a strong message of encouragement to aspiring young scientists and innovators across the Islands.
Mission ShakthiSAT India aims to inspire young girls to pursue careers in science, technology and space research while nurturing the next generation of innovators and space explorers.
