Cipla Chairman Yusuf Hamied donates Rs 8 crore for chemistry education

BANGALORE: UK-based Royal Society of Chemistry today said Cipla Chairman Yusuf Hamied has donated Rs eight crore to it to support an innovative chemistry education programme in India for less advantaged school students.

"Dr Yusuf Hamied, today announced a major financial donation to the Royal Society of Chemistry, to support an innovative chemistry education programme in India for school students, especially those from less-advantaged backgrounds," the Society in a release said.

Noting Hamied's contribution in the model of producing affordable medicines for patients in developing countries, it said "(He) is donating INR 8 Crore to the Royal Society of Chemistry Hamied Inspirational Chemistry Programme."

It said over the next five years, the programme aims to equip 8,000 teachers across India with the specialist knowledge and skills to deliver exciting and engaging chemistry lessons, and to pass it on to their colleagues.

It also aims to provide 1600 of the brightest chemistry students from all backgrounds with places at Chemistry Camps to motivate them to reach the necessary standards to study chemistry at university, the release added.