New Delhi, Aug 17 - The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is set to start a Master's programme in philanthropy so that trained people work for 'the destitute, orphans, streetchildren, social outcaste, leprosy-affected and physically challenged'.

The largest open university of the world has admitted 20 students who will get educated more on face-to-face mode rather than its traditional distance learning mode in Master in Social Work (Philanthropy), a press statement said Monday.

Lauding the initiative, IGNOU Vice Chancellor V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai said the 'new batches of philanthropists will emerge every year from now who soon will become the harbingers of social change'.

IGNOU said all religions have tenets in social service and India tops in them. 'Hence why not a school to train how to take care of the destitute, orphans, street children, social outcaste, leprosy-affected and physically challenged,' the varsity said.

These students will get post graduate degree from the school of social work of the varsity.