Set up in 1994 by business tycoon Shiv Nadar, the Foundation has established the not-for-profit SSN College of Engineering in Chennai, Shiv Nadar Schools and two VidyaGyan schools, which offer free education to students coming from financially weaker sections.
"We are looking for land to set up the third school after Bulandshahr and Sitapur. We are looking at Varanasi...We should be able to finalise something in the next 12 months and in three years, it should be functional," Shiv Foundation Senior Advisor Saurav Adhikari told reporters at the third anniversary celebrations of Vidyagyan school here.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who was the Chief guest at the event, said "I thank Shiv Nadar for the wonderful initiative which will brighten the future of the state by empowering the next generation."
The campus at Bulandshahr has 703 students and Sitapur has 533 students. Both have a combined capacity of 4200 students. Based on a boarding school model, the school admits students only from rural background with annual household income not more than Rs one lakh.
Asked if the Foundation would expand to other states, Foundation trustee and Shiv Nadar's daughter Roshni Nadar said the focus remains on Uttar Pradesh for now.
"We are testing grounds. We have been present in the state for 35 years (through HCL Corporation) and we know it well. Therefore, we would like to cover this state completely before expanding to others (states)," she added.
The Foundation, in collaboration with the UP government, selects meritorious students topping Class V from the state government-run schools. They then sit for an entrance test. (More)