Scholarship Schemes: Maha Govt’s Claim on Expenditure False?

Maharashtra state government had introduced Panjabrao Deshmukh student hostel fee scheme in 2016. This scheme was introduced against the backdrop of lakhs of students and young people from Maratha community marching for reservation. There were demands of hostels for the Maratha students in every district. Therefore, the state government had introduced this scheme to help students from economically backward classes—income of whose parents does not exceed Rs 8 lakh annually. 

In an interview published in the government’s monthly mouthpiece, Lokrajya, state's higher education minister, Vinod Tawde, had claimed that due to strict implementation of the scheme, the government has been able to save Rs 2,900 crore. In the same interview, he said that the total beneficiaries of the scheme in 2018-19 year are 25,628. State government has spent Rs 56 crore on these students under the scheme, claimed Tawde. 

However, as per an RTI reply received by Kuldeep Ambekar—a youth from Pune who runs an organisation for the students from Marathwada studying in Pune—only 9,397 students have applied for the scheme in the year 2018-19. Out of these, 9,331 have been selected and the state government spent about 2.53 crore for the scheme, said the RTI reply.    

"The claims made by state government in various advertisements, government programmes and also interviews being given by the BJP ministers and leaders are huge. People then think that even if they haven't got the benefit, there could be other people who are receiving it. But in reality, a lot fewer students have benefitted from the scheme. That's why we want the state government to come clean on the money part. Where are these crores and crores of rupees?" questioned Ambekar. 

This is not the only scheme. There is a scholarship scheme named after King Shahu—a progressive king and pioneer of reservation. The initial information suggests that the government has spent Rs 988 crore on this scheme. But the total expenditure of three years is not matching even the provision of first year of the scheme. 

"What we have found is that total Rs 2,900 crore have been claimed to be spent on three schemes for students. But in reality, the actual expenditure is just Rs 1,200 crore. So, where are those Rs 1600 crore?" asked Ambekar. 

As state gears up for Assembly elections, the claims of schemes for the students are doing rounds through various media and advertising channels. "We request the students and youths of the state to question these claims and ask for evidence to the leaders. Tall claims need to be confronted." said Ambekar. 

Also read: Ahead of Assembly Elections, Maharashtra Budget Announces Heavy Sops for People