Dreams to visit NASA shattered

5 students from IIIT Basara left in the lurch

​Hyderabad: Their dreams to meet the NASA scientists and participate in the International Conference in USA is on the verge of being shattered as the State Government has so far not responded to their plea to help them.

Five students of IIIT, Basara got the rare honour of being invited by NASA to make a presentation about their award winning project and for a chance to meet the scientists of the world’s renowned space organisation at the 35th International Space Development conference to be held from May 25.

Students of IIIT of Basara -- Akash, Pranay, Ramyasri, Venkatesh and Vishnupriya -- first year engineering students participated in the competition -- VIHAAN held by the NASA recently. The designs presented by these students were chosen from the entries of 150 countries.

NASA has been conducting competitions on habitable places in space every year. Following this, the students were invited to participate in the conference and make a presentation of their project.

Due to poverty, these students could not take up the US tour. The tour would cost about Rs 2 to Rs 3 lakh. Vice-chancellor of the IIIT Satyanarayana promised them to get help from the government. He has written a letter to the Higher Education department.

The students, whom The Hans India met, said that Information Technology Minister KT Rama Rao had also promised them to provide financial assistance to go to US. They were also told to get visa and passports for US trip by the officials. Of the five students, except Pranay, four have got the visa and passports and have been dreaming about the US tour for last few days.

Dejected Pranay left for home since he did not have money to get visa and passports.Student, who waited till Thursday for a positive response from the government and failed to get one, decided to meet the officials to seek their help.

But when they reached the Secretariat on Thursday morning, they were refused appointment with the officials from the IT department. The students, who waited in vain under the shade of the trees in the Secretariat till late in the afternoon, returned disappointed.

The students said that as the government has been encouraging many students and youngsters who achieved remarkable awards and successes, to participate in international events, they too felt that they would get similar support.

However, the refusal of officials to meet them was disappointing. “If the government does not come to our rescue, we will be missing a great opportunity,” the students said.