Plans for overseas education just got a jolt for Maharashtra's Scheduled Caste (SC) and Neo-Buddhist students. A recently revised scholarship program, the Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj Scholarship Scheme, has come under fire for stricter eligibility requirements.
While the Bombay High Court dismissed a legal challenge on June 26th, the state government is scrambling to address concerns before the application deadline on July 12th.
The controversy centres around new conditions attached to the scholarship. Previously offering full financial coverage, the scheme now caps funding at Rs 30 lakh for Masters and Rs 40 lakh for PhD programs. Additionally, students must come from families with an annual income below Rs 8 lakh and maintain a minimum academic performance of 75% from Class X onwards.
The Platform, a social advocacy NGO, argued these changes limit access to the scholarship and filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). Though the court dismissed the PIL, the delay in releasing a formal order has some believing their arguments held weight. The Platform remains determined, indicating plans to file a review petition and potentially pursue the matter in the Supreme Court.
Students may soon see some relief. After meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on July 6th, The Platform reports assurances of a revised Government Resolution (GR) addressing their concerns. While confident about removing the cap on funding and the stringent academic requirement, they remain unsure about the income ceiling's fate.
Dr Nitin Raut, a member of the state Assembly, is adding pressure for a quick resolution. He has pledged to raise the scholarship issue in the house today or tomorrow, urging a swift solution. With the deadline looming, students and advocates hope for an extension and a revised GR that ensures the scholarship remains accessible to its intended beneficiaries.