The Agricultural Institute was established under the leadership of Dr. Sam Higginbottom, in 1910, as an ecumenical Institution of the Christian Churches and Church organizations in India. Dr. Sam Higginbottom came to India in 1903 and joined the North India Mission of the Presbyterian Church. From 1903 to 1909, he taught economics and science in the Allahabad Christian College, presently known as Ewing Christian College, and at the same time studied the local dialect. During this period, he became a familiar figure in the surrounding villages. He also saw and observed the living conditions of the villagers and was deeply concerned about the ancient system of agriculture that contributed to low productivity and thus led to extreme poverty amongst them. He was also genuinely disturbed by the vast gulf between the urban Christian and the rural masses. For several months he contemplated upon the Christian neglect of the villages and ultimately by the end of 1909 he decided to bridge this gulf by establishing an agricultural school, which he envisioned would educate the village boys, introduce improved agricultural methods and cooperate with the local farmers in solving their practical agriculture related problems. He also took over the responsibility of supervising a home for lepers. This home was operated by the Allahabad Charitable Association,but since the home did not have adequate facilities for providing food, clothing and shelter, the lepers often left and wandered into the city as beggars.
Dr. Higginbottom himself found them repulsive as most of them had lost their fingers and toes, their wounds were wrapped in dung coloured rags. Dr. Sam Higginbottom was so disturbed by the sight that within a few weeks he asked to be relieved of this responsibility, but Mr. Arthur Henry Ewing, the Principal of Allahabad Christian College, encouraged him to continue this work. Realizing that his attitude was inconsistent with the teachings of the Bible, which taught to cleanse lepers, the young missionary acknowledged that they were indeed his brothers in Christ. This made him look for possibilities of increasing the financial assistance for a proper home for lepers and thus came into being, the present Leprosy Hospital in Naini, situated across the Jamuna river about 1.5 kilometers south east of the city. The home consisted of a small hospital and church and a home for the untainted children of the lepers. This home was the project of Ethelind Higginbottom, wife of Dr. Sam Higginbottom. She felt that children who were separated within the first year of their birth from their parents would not contact this disease. This home was adjacent to the Naini Jail where the superintendent Col. E. Hudson, introduced improved agricultural techniques on the jail farm. Dr. Higginbottom seized upon Hudson’s methods of farming and taught these methods to the lepers who were able to farm.
Bonafide students of the University, who have a good conduct and extra ordinary academic record, belonging to a weaker socio- economic background can be awarded scholarships, which are being offered by various agencies, viz;
a. Student’s Book aid scholarship
b. Junior Fellowship of I.C.A.R.
c. All India Association for Christian Higher Education (AIACHE), New Delhi
d. Jindal Trust, New Delhi
e. Rajya Krishi Utpadan Mandi Parishad- Allahabad
f. U.P. Alpsankhyak Vittia Awam Nigam- Lucknow (forms will be available at the Registrar’s Office)
g. SC/ST/OBC/Minorities Scholarships of State Government
h. Earn while you learn programme (SHIATS-DU work scholarship*/assistantship**)
i. Chaplain’s Scholarship***
j. Yeshu Darbar Scholarship***
Note
* Earn while you learn programme: Work Scholarship
Every candidate to be considered for financial assistance under “Earning While Learning Scheme” must apply in his/ her own handwriting with income Certificate from the Parents / Guardian and photocopy of the mark sheet of the last semester completed in the institute. Selection shall be valid for one academic session i.e. July to June each year. Selected UG & PG candidate shall be permitted to work for a maximum of 40 hrs. each month & for Ph.D 60 hrs. The payment shall be made @ Rs. 25/-per hour The maximum amount earned in a month by any candidate shall not be more then Rs . 1000/-(one thousand) only for UG & PG. For Ph.D maximum amount shall not be more that Rs. 1500/- . The last date for the submission of application form shall be announced each year and application should be submitted in the office of the Dean Students Welfare accordingly. Those who are engaged for tuition to the wards of the SHIATS employees shall be eligible to receive Rs. 750/ -P.M. only of this amount 50% i.e. Rs. 375/-shall be paid by the actual user and remaining 50% (Rs.375-) shall be paid by the University. Each employee shall give a certificate that the student has worked for 30 hrs. for a month and has been paid Rs. 375/-by the user. No student shall be eligible under this scheme is he/she fails in four (4) or more courses. A candidate will not be eligible to avail financial assistance under this scheme if he/she has availed fee concession / scholarship or any other financial assistance form outside agency.
** Earn while you learn programme:
Assistantship Research/Teaaching Assistantship shall be available in limited number for meritorious and needy students pursuing their Masters or Ph. D. Programmes.
*** Chaplain’s Scholarship/Yeshu Darbar Scholarship:
These scholarships are available only to poor and needy Christian students. The Christian Students will be required to submit the following documents to University Chaplain and Secretary, Yeshu Darbar respectively for availing these scholarship (i) Letter of recommendation from the Pastor of the Church duly authenticated by the Senior Pastor or Bishop. (ii) Baptism Certificate / Confirmation Certificate (iii) Parent’s Income Certificate
