THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala’s govt has, citing the financial crisis, slashed scholarships for minority community students by 50%, leaving the education of thousands of students in limbo. The decision affects nine of the 11 scholarship programmes – originally allocated Rs 13.6 crore – offered by the department of minority welfare.
Govt insists that the reduction in plan size is being adjusted on a priority basis but the disproportionate cutback in educational assistance for minority students raises questions about policy priorities and social justice.
The hardest hit is the Prof Joseph Mundassery Scholarship, which was allocated Rs 5.2 crore this year. It has been a lifeline for high-achieving students from the Muslim, Sikh, Jain and Parsi communities, offering Rs 10,000 to those securing A-Plus in all subjects in the SSLC examination and Rs 15,000 to those scoring 80% in higher secondary or 75% in vocational higher secondary courses. With priority given to students from below-poverty-line (BPL) families and provisions extended to those from economically weaker sections of the above-poverty-line (APL) category, it ensured that bright students from underprivileged backgrounds were not forced to abandon their education due to financial constraints.
The APJ Abdul Kalam Scholarship, another critical support for minority students, has also been halved. The scholarship, of Rs 6,000, is offered to those securing admission in govt-approved institutions on merit, with priority for those from BPL families. It also reserves 30% of funds for female students, meaning the cuts could affect young women from disadvantaged backgrounds who already face hurdles in accessing higher education.
The Mother Teresa Scholarship, which supports students from Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain and Parsi communities pursuing diploma courses in govt nursing and paramedical institutions, is another scheme affected. Many aspiring nurses and paramedics, whose families struggle to afford the cost of professional training, now face the grim prospect of discontinuing their studies.
The decision has also affected scholarships for those studying abroad, financial assistance for civil service coaching and reimbursement for UGC coaching.
When education remains the most powerful tool for social mobility, slashing financial assistance for students from historically marginalised communities only widens the gap between privilege and disadvantage, IUML leader M K Muneer said. “The LDF govt always speaks about the younger generation and knowledge economy. This is contradictory to that stance. They justify the Plan cuts citing a financial crisis and claim they are prioritising essential expenditures. If this so-called prioritisation results in slashing scholarships meant for underprivileged students, it clearly exposes where the govt’s real priorities lie,” he said.
Many families from minority communities rely on these scholarships for their children’s education. The selective austerity measures also raise the question of who bears the real cost of the financial crisis.