Breaking Barriers, Building Futures: Inspiring Journeys of India’s Unstoppable IIT Scholars. At an institution as rigorous as IIT Delhi, excellence is the baseline. Yet, for students like Sakshi Padir and Akhshitha Laxmi Devi Rathod, the challenges go far beyond the classroom; they have had to navigate the quiet, ongoing pressure of severe financial limitations.

Yuva Unstoppable, ranked among India’s top 10 NGOs, serves as a vital link between hardship and professional achievement. Established by Yale alumnus Amitabh Shah - who famously walked away from a Wall Street career to dedicate himself to grassroots work in India - the organization ensures that the country’s brightest minds are not forced to abandon their education due to tuition fees or a lack of resources. To date, the Yuva Unstoppable scholarship program has enabled 484 boys and 102 girls from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to secure admission into IITs across the country, turning stories of struggle into journeys of courage, aspiration, and upward social mobility.

Breaking the Cycle in Ahmednagar

For Sakshi Padir, growing up in a small town where the typical path for an 18-year-old involved marriage rather than higher education, getting into IIT Delhi was an act of rebellion. With a total family income of just ₹87,000 and a father working a modest private-sector job, the financial strain was a constant reality.

"I have been surviving without taking money from my parents since my second year," Sakshi shared. To cover essential costs, such as laptop repairs, she relied on a friend’s credit card, later paying off the debt through tutoring work. Her resilience has 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 clear her student loans and improve her family’s financial situation.

"I want to be the support for others that I once received in the form of scholarships and guidance," says Sakshi, who now aims to pursue a career as a product manager before eventually becoming an entrepreneur.

A Joint Family's Double Triumph

Similarly, Akhshitha Laxmi Devi Rathod highlights the immense potential within India’s rural youth. Raised in a large joint family where her father runs a small seed business, the financial burden was heavy: both Akhshitha and her brother defied the odds to earn seats at IIT Delhi and IIT Roorkee, respectively.

While having two children in IITs is a source of immense pride, it creates a significant financial hurdle for a small-business owner. For Akhshitha, the Yuva Unstoppable scholarship is more than just monetary assistance; it is the "fillip" that allows her to focus on her IIT Delhi coursework and her upcoming role at Yes Bank in Mumbai, rather than worrying about 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".

A Vision for 'Unstoppable' Leaders

These stories are central to the mission of Yuva Unstoppable. The organisation has supported over 7,000 merit scholars to date. Looking forward, the group aims to scale its impact significantly by 2030, with a target of empowering 15,000 merit scholars. The program offers more than just financial aid; it provides comprehensive support, including mentorship, career counselling, and professional development webinars. Notable success stories include alumni who have gone on to become Medical Officers and Chartered Accountants at prestigious 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 carry with them 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.

About Yuva Unstoppable

After completing his Master's degree at Yale University, Mr Amitabh Shah turned down a job offer on Wall Street with JP Morgan to work on the ground in India and establish Yuva Unstoppable (now ranked among the top 10 largest NGOs in India). Amitabh holds the distinction of being the youngest Indian to be honoured with the US Government’s International Ellis Island Award, a recognition previously bestowed upon global figures such as President Bill Clinton, President George Bush, Muhammad Ali, Paula Abdul, Indra Nooyi, and Malala Yousafzai. The work of Yuva Unstoppable has also been acknowledged by former Presidents of India - Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and Shri Ram Nath Kovind, and Amitabh was recently named a Viksit Bharat Ambassador in recognition of his contributions to nation-building. The organisation’s initiatives span Education, Early Childhood Care, Health and Nutrition, Employability and Skilling, and Environment and Agroforestry.

Impact at a Glance:

  • 10M+ beneficiaries empowered across 25 Indian states

  • 9,000+ schools transformed with WASH facilities, STEM labs, and smart classrooms, boosting attendance by 15% and learning outcomes by 4x (validated by London School of Economics)

  • 7000 plus students supported through scholarships

  • 1,00,000 plus youth skilled

  • 35 million trees planted, supporting 50,000+ farmers and sequestering 27M tons of carbon

  • CSR projects implemented with partners like HDFC Bank, IBM, Disney, EY, PwC, Adani, Torrent, Bank of America, Gates Foundation. KPMG is the audit partner.

    For a quick glance at Yuva Unstoppable’s impact video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9elW8E-2cR4

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 23, 2026 02:08 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).