Is Gujarat's Scholarship System Unfair to SC Students?

 Does the Gujarat Government Disregard SC Students' Education Needs?

I am an Indian, living in Gujarat, and today, I want to share something that deeply concerns me about the scholarship distribution system. Education is essential for growth and empowerment, but my experience with this system has been disheartening.

When I started my first year of Bachelor's degree last year, I was granted a scholarship of only ₹5,000. Out of curiosity, I compared this with my friends belonging to the ST category, and they received ₹8,880. Doesn’t this sound unfair? Sadly, this inequality doesn't end here. Let me give you another example from my brother's experience. When he was in the 11th standard, he received ₹2,500 as a scholarship, while his ST category classmates were granted ₹5,000.

To understand this better, I approached the college. Shockingly, the staff didn’t even know the details about scholarships for SC category students. However, they were well-informed about ST scholarships. This selective ignorance is troubling.

Unfair Processes and Red Tape

Moreover, the hurdles faced by SC students during the scholarship application process are equally frustrating. My college demanded two sets of true copies of documents exclusively from SC students, even after completing the online submission. Isn’t this an outdated practice? My parents mentioned that "true copies" were a requirement in their college days. Why is this still a thing in 2024? If online submission exists, why add unnecessary layers of bureaucracy—particularly for one category?

And after all these efforts, we receive the lowest scholarship amounts. This treatment feels discriminatory and undermines the value of education for SC students.

Is Equality Too Much to Ask?

Scholarships are meant to support students from underprivileged communities. But this unequal distribution and complicated process show a lack of commitment to uplifting SC students. Shouldn't all students, regardless of category, be treated equally in matters of education?

What do you think, friends? Have you faced similar issues? Let’s talk about this in the comments below. Together, we can bring awareness to such injustices.

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