RMTS (Rural Math Talent Search) Examination or "Gramya GaNita Medha AnyesaN"

2 students got selected by RMTS worked as tea cup washers and continue as such even today. However in the last camp, attended by their class teacher, they were evaluated to earn equivalent of 85% in class 10. This without tuitions and coaching which their urban compatriots and those from well to do families get. When they came to the 1st Math camp in 2004 they borrowed shirts from a neighbor. How is it happening? RMTS.
After umpteen number of years of no rural kids in the Orissa state Math Olympiad camps, while only one got selected more than 5 years back, this year’s camp had 5 kids among 100. And they are at the top of the camp. How did it happen? Again the answer is RMTS.

A brief History of RMTS:

Since 1993 nearly 10 thousand plus students from all 30 districts of Orissa have taken part in these tests. RMTS is not an ordinary test, it seeks to unearth kids with a logical mind, good for Mathematics. Mathematics is the language of science and technology like Oriya or English are the language for history, literature. One has a history and other has a future. Rather, science is the future.
RMTS was born in 2003 with a test and 30 scholarships. All scholarships are awarded for 5 years to class 10. It was expanded in 2004 to 100 and in 2005 to 165 scholarships. The scholarships are equally distributed between the 3 regions, Western, Southern and Coastal Orissa. Scholarship money is Rs. 1500 / month.
The upcoming RMTS 2006 will be the 4th RMTS and award 200 scholarships.
In 2005 we reached all 30 districts. 2006 goal is to reach all the 314 blocks of Orissa.
Like Ramanujan who was not at the top of his class, many of RMTS scholars were not in the top of their class, but flourishing, once their niche talent has been found..
There are nearly 800 thousand students in class VI and we have reached only 5 thou.
We have realized that we have hit upon a winning formula but our target rural talents are still not within reach.
How can you help:

Help organize centers in all the blocks of Orissa.
Help spread the word so more kids participate in the test, because we can only know who have the logical mind if only they participate. Normally these students are not in the top of their class because our system is geared to rote learning.
Spread the word: Last date of application is Aug 10 / Test date is Sept 10.
Call your friends/relatives in rural Orissa particularly if they are teachers and request them to contact Institute of Mathematics for info booklet and forms.
IMA phone: (0674) 2542164, 2540604