Rule tweak deprives dalit student of sanctioned scholarship
The department has informed the Delhi high court that since the petitioner’s study entails staying in India for 6-12 months, the benefits of National Overseas Scheme (NOS) can’t be granted to Mahananda.
Mahananda, with the support of Nagpur NGO The Platform, is fighting a legal battle for his case against the department. Pending the HC decision, he has not been able to join the course abroad.
“In 2021, my application for the scholarship was rejected on the grounds that I had scored less than 60% marks in post-graduation, required for eligibility,” says Mahananda. When Mahananda proved in the court that he had scored 68% marks at PG-level, he was awarded provisional scholarship letter and thus enrolled for the PhD.
The Platform said, “It is fundamentally wrong. Another thing is that the rule was introduced after Mahananda was awarded the scholarship. So even though he has already been granted a scholarship, it cannot suddenly be rejected citing new rules.”
Rajiv Khobragade, member of The Platform, said, “Babasaheb Ambedkar was conferred doctor of science (DSc) by London School of Economics for presenting his India-focused research thesis ‘The Problem of Rupee — Its origin and its solution’. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was established based on this thesis.”
“It is a matter of pride for India that an Indian student submits a thesis on the Indian economy and that
thesis becomes the focal point of the country’s economy. If this unjust rule of the department had been there during Babasaheb’s time, the RBI would not have existed today,” he said.
