Try googling ‘Scholarship’ and the best and apt description you will get on it will be this: “a grant or payment made to support a student’s education, awarded on the basis of academic or another achievement.”
For someone belonging to a relatively higher class and stable family background, this might seem like extra pocket money earning that one can invest in personal needs, like excursions, trips, shopping and whatnot. But for a student belonging to an underprivileged ST and SC background, this scholarship is the only ray of hope and support they have in their life to pursue their basic graduation or post-graduation degree.
One doesn’t realize the gravity of the situation until and unless they are subjected to the same condition and circumstances. Despite having a growing economy and prospering environment, children from ST/SC background either quit studies after 12th because their family is already running short on money or they pursue their post-matric so that they are not a burden to their family.
It is disturbing and grievous to see that even after the provision of post-matric scholarship and despite the strict guidelines laid down by the Government of India to support the students, it is not being implemented with full dedication and adherence. Recently, the Orissa government reversed its decision of reducing the amount of post-matric scholarships for SC and ST students.
There have been cases of the delayed arrival of scholarship and in fact, no arrival of scholarships and students are left with no option, but to cut down their meals to compensate for the hostel fee or else the academic fee.
When you look at the details of the post-matric scholarship scheme, it seems to be one of the most appropriate and basic schemes with adequate requirements of data and eligibility, and the late arrival and no arrival of the scholarship is a major loophole which is still questionable. The government does not realise that a minor loophole in this whole scenario is costing the students their livelihood and their survival.