This year thousands of students belonging to minority communities may be devoid of merit cum mean scholarships given by the Union Government as the last date of scheme ended before the completion of the admission process. This may bring more problems to the students who are already under economic strain due to economic conditions of their families.
According to All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) of 2018-19, 7.55% students in higher education are from identified minority communities i.e. Sikh, Jain, Christians Zoroastrians, Muslims etc.). The recent revelation by the Union government in the Lok Sabha suggests that minority students constitute only 7.55% of higher education enrolment and according to the Government this point towards a very worrisome situation.
According to Minister for Minority Affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, “state-sponsored scholarship programs encourage students from minority communities to take up courses in higher education.”
But there has been a constant cut in budgetary allocations for scholarship during recent years. This year the condition may further worsen as the last date for application has already expired. The extended date for the scholarships for minorities expired on 25/02/2021 while the last date for the SC/ST scholarships was 28/02/2021. While the admission process is still underway and is being delayed due to Covid conditions, many students will be deprived of these scholarships.
Not all the students get these scholarships as there are so many administrative hurdles and issues. There are complaints of irregularities and loopholes too. This has led to the dip in the number of applicants. Still these scholarships are the source of continuing their education.
Recently, a Parliamentary Standing Committee had shown the concerns regarding these scholarships. The Parliamentary panel has asked the Union Minority Affairs Ministry to plug loopholes and work with states towards preventing alleged misappropriation of funds.
“surprised to note that the ministry was not able to spend its budgetary allocation fully during 2020-21 due to slow pace of expenditure in scholarship component”, the Parliamentary Standing Committee has said in its latest report.