2022 batch students disappointed as BARTI withdraws letter to govt seeking fellowship

Taking cognisance of the 105-day-long protest, the institute had sent a proposal to the Department of Social Justice and Special Assistance on December 29 to grant fellowship to the 2022 batch of aspirants.

The institute had also denounced an entrance exam for the fellowship —that was to be held on January 10. However, on Tuesday evening, BARTI released a notice withdrawing the December 29 letter and stating that the examination on January 10 will be held as previously announced.

An autonomous institute under the Department of Social Justice and Special Assistance, BARTI has been granting PhD fellowships since 2013 to students belonging to the Scheduled Castes.

In 2021, all eligible and qualified candidates were granted the fellowship by BARTI. An advertisement was sent out and applications opened for the 2022 batch in January 2023 but the grant letters were never sent out. In June 2023, a special committee was set up.

In October, however, it was decided to limit the intake for BARTI, MahaJyoti and SARTHI fellowships to 200.

The students of the 2022 batch found that they too would have to sit for fellowship entrance exam. “How can this government decision be applied to us retrospectively?” asked Pravin Gaikwad, one of the students who has been protesting outside BARTI since September 20.
On December 29, the director of BARTI sent a letter to the Department of Social Justice and Special Assistance denouncing the entrance examination rescheduled for January 10.

The letter urged the government to disburse funds so that the pending fellowship can be granted to all eligible students of the 2022 batch before the process of 2023 is started.

The December 29 letter from Director Sunil Ware said, “The government policy decided on 30/10/2023 is not applicable to students of BANRF-2022…”

Despite repeated attempts, Sunil Ware remained unavailable for comment.