Overcoming Obstacles, Shaping Tomorrow: The Remarkable Paths of India’s Resilient IIT Scholars. IIT Delhi is known for its demanding academic environment. Yet, for students like Sakshi Padir and Akhshitha Laxmi Devi Rathod, the challenges went far beyond the classroom; they had to navigate the quiet, ongoing pressure of severe financial instability.
Yuva Unstoppable, ranked among India’s top 10 NGOs, serves as a vital link for students moving from adversity to professional success. Established by Yale alumnus Amitabh Shah—who famously walked away from a Wall Street career to dedicate himself to grassroots social work in India—the organization works to ensure that the country’s most promising minds are not compelled to abandon their education because of financial constraints. So far, the Yuva Unstoppable scholarship initiative has helped 484 boys and 102 girls from underprivileged backgrounds secure admission to IITs across the country, turning stories of struggle into accounts of courage, aspiration, and upward mobility.
(Left to Right )Akhshitha Laxmi, Business Analyst At Yes Bank Sakshi Padir, Ai & Decision Science Analyst At Accenture
For Sakshi Padir, earning a spot at IIT Delhi was an act of defiance. Raised in a small town where marriage was the typical expectation for an 18-year-old, she opted for a different trajectory. With a total household income of only ₹87,000 and a father working in a modest private-sector job, she lived under a constant shadow of financial worry.
"I have been surviving without taking money from my parents since my second year," Sakshi shared. She covered necessary costs, like laptop repairs, by borrowing a friend’s credit card and later paying it off through tutoring work. Her determination paid off. Sakshi has secured a role at Accenture with an annual salary of ₹21.7 Lakhs—a life-changing sum that will allow her to settle student loans and strengthen her family’s financial stability.
"I want to be the support for others that I once received in the form of scholarships and guidance," says Sakshi, who plans to work as a product manager before eventually exploring entrepreneurship.
Akhshitha Laxmi Devi Rathod is another example of the immense potential within India’s rural youth. Growing up in a large joint family where her father runs a small seed business, the financial pressure was intense: both Akhshitha and her brother defied the odds to gain admission to IIT Delhi and IIT Roorkee, respectively.
While having two children at IITs is a point of great pride, it creates a significant financial burden for a small-business owner. For Akhshitha, the Yuva Unstoppable scholarship is more than just financial help; it is the "fillip" that enables her to focus on her IIT Delhi studies and her upcoming position at Yes Bank in Mumbai, instead of stressing over her father’s ability to pay for the next semester.
Swati Shah, Head- Scholarships at Yuva Unstoppable, remarked, "Financial aid opens the door, but it is the mentorship and career guidance we provide that ensures our students walk through it with confidence. We are grateful to our donors who believe in the potential of these students and support them emotionally through this journey. "
These stories are central to the mission of Yuva Unstoppable. To date, the organization has backed more than 7,000 merit scholars. Looking forward, the group plans to scale its impact significantly by 2030, aiming to empower 15,000 merit scholars. The program provides more than just financial assistance; it offers holistic support, such as mentorship, career counseling, and professional development webinars. Notable success stories feature alumni who have moved into roles as Medical Officers and Chartered Accountants at top-tier firms like PwC.
Amitabh Shah, Founder of Yuva Unstoppable, sees these students as the architects of a Viksit Bharat. "A scholarship is more than a financial transaction; it is a vote of confidence that tells a young person their circumstances do not define their destination," remarked Amitabh. "By supporting students like Sakshi and Akhshitha, we are enabling a one-generation jump for entire families out of poverty. "
As these young women prepare to join the corporate world at global leaders like Accenture and Yes Bank, they hold more than just a degree; they carry proof that with the right support, no ambition is out of reach, regardless of one's small-town origins.
Following his Master’s degree at Yale University, Mr. Amitabh Shah turned down a Wall Street position at JP Morgan to pursue grassroots initiatives in India and establish Yuva Unstoppable (now ranked among India’s 10 largest NGOs). Amitabh is the youngest Indian to receive the US Government’s International Ellis Island Award, an honor previously given to global figures such as President Bill Clinton, President George Bush, Muhammad Ali, Paula Abdul, Indra Nooyi, and Malala Yousafzai. The efforts of Yuva Unstoppable have also been recognized by former Presidents of India – Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam and Shri Ram Nath Kovind, and Amitabh was recently appointed a Viksit Bharat Ambassador for his contributions to nation-building. The organization’s programs cover Education, Early Childhood Care, Health and Nutrition, Employability and Skilling, and Environment and Agroforestry.
For a quick glance at Yuva Unstoppable’s impact video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9elW8E-2cR4
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