Maharashtra’s Scholarship Quagmire

In Maharashtra, a range of scholarships exists to support students from marginalized communities, primarily scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, other backward classes and economically weaker sections. Both the central and state governments offer these scholarships, supplemented by autonomous institutions such as the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Training and Research Institute (BARTI), Tribal Training and Research Institute (TRTI) and others. These institutions provide crucial financial support, including post-matriculation scholarships and stipends for higher education, yet their operations are mired in inefficiencies and growing public disillusionment.

The purpose of these scholarships is to uplift disadvantaged students through educational and economic empowerment. Institutions such as BARTI, Mahajyoti, SARATHI and TRTI are tasked with implementing these schemes, each tailored to a specific demographic. Each institution offers opportunities to 75 underprivileged students for higher education abroad and bears their entire expenses. Also, for PhD and research students, SARATHI, BARTI and Mahajyoti institutes offer stipends to 200 students, while TRTI offers stipends to 100 students. Free coaching, books and tuition are provided to meritorious students to aid preparation for the JEE and NEET exams.

In theory, this should create a framework for promoting social mobility. In practice, however, the system is riddled with contradictions, inefficiencies, and a lack of coordination.

Over the years, the state government has expanded this network with the creation of new entities like the Annabhau Sathe Training and Research Institute (ARTI) and the Minority Training and Research Institute (MARTI). However, these initiatives remain largely inactive, further complicating an already burdened system.

A significant issue lies in the lack of transparency and uniformity among these institutions. Despite their ostensibly autonomous status, decisions are made at the government level, leaving little room for flexibility at the directorate level. Furthermore, a new policy establishing a single committee to govern all institutions, irrespective of the distinct needs and socio-economic conditions of the constituencies they serve, has been met with widespread criticism. It raises the question of whether a one-size-fits-all approach can work in such a diverse state.

Budgetary discrepancies compound the problem. The institutions’ operational rules are often confusing, with varying stipends, tuition fees, and eligibility conditions. Even the most basic provisions -like free coaching for competitive exams such as JEE and NEET - require clearing preliminary examinations, creating additional hurdles for students already grappling with financial instability.

More worryingly, despite the shift to an online scholarship disbursement system in 2017, many students report significant delays. In some cases, scholarships have been withheld for over two years. These delays erode trust in the system, with many students opting out of the application process altogether as the frustration of waiting undermines the very purpose of financial aid.

For students from rural areas and backward communities, these scholarships are often the only means to break the cycle of poverty. The failure of the government to provide timely assistance pushes many students into deeper financial stress, leading them to abandon their studies entirely. Worse, delays in scholarship payments create a ripple effect of social and psychological distress, reducing future opportunities and depriving the state of much-needed talent from its underserved regions.

The government’s intention to assist these students is clear, but its execution is severely flawed.

(The writer is a lawyer and president, Student Helping Hands. Views personal.)