Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology (TNSCST) in collaboration with Human Resources Development (HRD) New Delhi has sponsored Young Student Scientists Programme (YSSP) in different districts in Tamil Nadu with the objective to encourage talented young students to take up science as their career. Under this scheme students from Thanjavur and Thiruvarur Districts were trained at AVVM Sri Pushpam College (autonomous), Poondi. A sum of Rs.2,85,000/- was sactioned to run the programme. During the month of May every year the programme was to be conducted for one full month covering the subjects Botany, Zoology, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Computer Science and Environment.

covering the subjects of 8th standard state pattern syllabus of Government and private schools. From among the applicants from each Higher Secondary School and High School, three bright students were selected for the competitive entrance examination. First hundred students, 50 from each district, were selected on merit basis and admitted for this programme, both boys and girls. The same set of students attended the programme for the next two years and they were taught science subjects covering 9th standard syllabus in the first and 10th and 11th standard syllabus in the subsequent years upto May 2001 respectively.

This programme is a blessing in disguise for all the students who were really bright and could not afford to attend summer camps due to economic reasons. This selection has kindled the aptitude of every pupil for all round development.