ABOUT US

Institute of Mathematics and Applications (IMA) is a premier Organization that has conceived this path breaking attempt to bring in the rural kids to the fore before they wither away. This has been appreciated by Government of India (GOI), which supports this program.
IMA was established in year 1999, by Government of Orissa (GOO).
Please read the article below to see detail as to how and why Rural Math Talent Search (RMTS) project was started.
One of the goals set in IMA’s charter was:

• To provide for search and nurturing of young talents in mathematics and to inculcate in them a mathematical culture.

IMA conducted 1st RMTS Tests in 2003. Seven more RMTS tests have been conducted in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008,  2009 & 2010.  In all Eight batches of students have been picked and nurtured, through two weeklong camps every year. RMTS 2011 will be the 9th RMTS examination.  From year 2007, the tests are being done in two phases.  In the 1^st phase 1000 are selected out of the participants and another test is conducted to finalize the winners.  Last year we reached about half of the 314 blocks of Odisha.

Currently  scholars are mentored and monitored for 3 years and in 6 camps.  These camps are financed by the Department of Atomic Energy, Govt. of India (GOI). Some NRIs and education enthusiasts in India have come forward to donate scholarships to the selected students @ Rs. 1500/ year for 5 years (to class 10) to encourage these young scholars. Details are as follows:

• 2003: 1st RMTS
• 30 scholarships for 5 years (2003-2007) donated by an NRI in memory of Late Kamala Pada Das.
• 16 scholarships through Give A Hand (GAH) program of Vikas Educational and Charitable Trust (VECT), India.
• 2 scholarships donated by NRI, Sri Surajit Amrit, to exceptionally poor kids.
• 2004: 2nd RMTS
• 100 scholarships for 5 years (2004-2008) Donated by NRIs, through Sustainable Economic and Educational Development Society(SEEDS, USA and administered by VECT, India.
• 2 scholarships donated by Dr. Swadheen Pattnaik of IMA.
• 2005: 3rd RMTS
• 162 scholarships for 5 years (2005-2009) Donated by NRIs, through Sustainable Economic and Educational Development Society(SEEDS), USA and Indian Relief and Education Fund (IREF), USA and administered by VECT, India .
• 3 scholarships donated by 2 from Indian, Sri Srijat Mishra and Saumya Mohapatra, himself a doctoral student at IIT, through VECT, India. 
• 55 scholarships each were donated to students from Coastal, Western and Southern districts of Orissa.
• 2006: 4 th RMTS
• 201 scholarships awarded for 5 years(2006-2010) donated by NRIs, through SEEDS, USA, IREF, USA and administered by VECT, India. Similar donations have been raised by VECT from India.
• 67 scholarships have been donated equally to each Zone this year too.
• 2007: 5 th RMTS
• 201 scholarships, awarded.  67 from each Zone, Coastal, Western & South.
• 2008: 6 th RMTS
• 201 scholarships, proposed.  67 from each Zone, Coastal, Western & South.
• 2009, 7^th RMTS:
• 50 scholarships
• 2010, 8^th RMTS:
• 203 students selected – scholarships will be donated based merit and means.

Please use the web links to learn about the support Organizations:

• SEEDS (www.seedsnet.org),
• VECT (vikas.org.in) and IREF (iref.homestead.com)
•  IMA (www.iomath.org).
  Note: Except a couple of big donors ($1000), the funds have been raised by small donations of $225/ year (committed for 5 years and good for six scholars in India at the present exchange rate) through SEEDS.  Indian donors are encouraged to support 2 students (Rs. 3000/ year for 5 years). List of donors is below (3 and 4). A group of ex-Math Olympiad scholars lead by Shri Abhilash Mishra of Oxford University have started supporting RMTS.

Some Blog Articles on RMTS:

1. Math Initiative by Sandip K. Dasverma:

2. Rural Math Talent Search – It's time has come. By S. K. Dasverma