Only 21 names declared for 75 seats cleared for foreign edu scholarship

Months after the Maharashtra government approved the Sayajirao Gaekwad Sarathi Scholarship for meritorious students coming from Maratha community to do higher studies abroad, only 21 names of selected candidates have been declared even as 75 seats were approved.

The scholarship, approved in July 2023, is for students from Maratha and Kunbi categories in the state through Sarthi, a non-profit government company for Marathas. The scholarship will be given for pursuing masters degree, postgraduate diploma (PG diploma), as well as PhD. In the first year, 75 students were expected to take benefit from the scholarship. However, a government resolution (GR) declared on Monday declaring names of selected candidates has only 21 names, for all courses combined.

Kuldeep Ambekar from Student Helping Hands blamed the tough criteria for the scholarship. He said, “The parameters set for this scholarship include scoring 75 per cent and above in graduation. All other similar scholarships for foreign education meant for other castes such as Other Backward class and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes among all, the applicant is required to score 60 per cent and above in graduation. While they get all expenses paid, for Sayajirao Gaekwad Scholarship, there is a cap of Rs 30 lakh. This puts restrictions on students as in many cases, the expenditure can go beyond it.”