Scholarship Crisis Hits Jharkhand's OBC Students
Thousands of Other Backward Class (OBC) students in Jharkhand are facing severe financial hardship as scholarship payments remain pending for approximately two years. The prolonged delay has pushed many students to the brink of dropping out, prompting various student organizations to threaten widespread agitations if the issue isn't resolved immediately.
Government Targets vs Ground Reality
During an October review meeting, Welfare Minister Chamra Linda received startling information about the scholarship distribution status. The state government had set an ambitious target to benefit 11,34,183 OBC students from the financial year 2022-23 to 2025-26. However, the actual disbursement tells a different story.
Authorities informed the minister that only Rs 1,202 crore has reached the bank accounts of 7,45,557 students, leaving a significant number of beneficiaries waiting for their entitled funds. The minister acknowledged that the state hasn't received the Centre's share of Rs 900 crore, creating a major roadblock in the scholarship distribution process.
Students Voice Their Struggles
The financial impact on students has been devastating. Ravi Roushan, an OBC undergraduate student at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University (DSPMU), revealed the harsh reality facing many scholars. "The delay in scholarship distribution has caused a financial crisis among the students, and those pursuing vocational courses like BEd, BPharm and nursing are facing difficulties in paying their course fees," he told reporters.
Preeti Kumari, another DSPMU student pursuing commerce, echoed similar concerns. "Due to the stoppage of scholarship, I am worried about paying the college fees and purchasing the necessary books," she shared, highlighting how the delay affects basic educational requirements.
Protest Plans and Political Response
The All Jharkhand Students' Union (AJSU) has initiated a mass contact program at Ram Lakhan Singh Yadav College and DSPMU to mobilize students for their proposed "Siksha ke liye Bbhiksha (begging for education)" protest scheduled for November 27. In a dramatic demonstration of their frustration, AJSU members plan to take to the streets with bowls, symbolizing how they're being forced to beg for their rightful scholarships.
Minister Linda explained the funding mechanism, noting that the Centre-state share ratio for scholarships is 60:40. He assured that authorities have taken all necessary steps to secure the release of dues from the Union government. "A new system in which the Centre's fund would be automatically deposited after the state transfers its share would be effective soon. This would remove the problem of fund delays," the minister stated optimistically.
The political response has been multifaceted. On Sunday, student representatives submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Hemant Soren, urging immediate action. Meanwhile, the Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha met Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar on November 11 to highlight the crisis.
Abhishek Shukla of Abua Adhikar Manch confirmed that his organization has repeatedly presented student grievances before Tribal Welfare Commissioner Kuldip Choudhary. He warned that phase-wise agitations would commence if constructive initiatives aren't taken to disburse the pending amounts promptly.
