Scholarship scheme not acceptable to Dalits: DMK

Chennai: DMK’s manifesto seems to be promising an already existing scholarship scheme for Dalits and tribal students as a new scheme with less benefits.

In its manifesto for the Assembly polls, DMK, if voted to power,  has promised that the government would bear the entire cost of professional education of first generation Dalit and tribal girl children, whose parents are agricultural labourers, admitted in government colleges, including hostel facilities. The same benefits will be extended to children of inter-caste couples if one of the parents belongs to SC or ST, it added.

In fact, the existing post matric scholarship covers Dalits and tribal students studying in government, government aided and self financing professional colleges. The government would directly pay the government fixed compulsory and non-refundable fees payable by students to institutions.

“DMK’s promise is tantamount to reducing existing scholarship benefits for Dalits and tribal students. The existing scholarship reimburses full education cost in any type of institutions whether government or private. A scheduled caste or Scheduled Tribe students pursuing engineering in self-financing college will get  free education. Scholarship is subject only to income limit,” retired civil servant R. Christodas Gandhi told Deccan Chronicle.

Where is the need for such an announcement in the manifesto, he wondered..
Pointing out that he along with other activists had presented a memorandum of demands for Scheduled Caste welfare to all political parties to include it in their poll manifesto, he said one of the demands was to further strengthen the post matric scholarship and to ensure timely release of scholarship.

“However, this announcement seems to be reducing the existing benefits. This is totally unacceptable to Dalits. The party  has not paid proper attention to its manifesto.  They had made this assurance simply without analysing what are the existing policies,” he said.

P. B. Prince Gajendra Babu, general secretary, State Platform for Common School System, said only difference he could see between the DMK’s assurance and existing scholarship was hostel facility.

“They should clearly explain what kind of hostel facility they are intending to provide. Already, Adi Dravida department is running hostels, which do not meet required standards. The hostels do not provide nutritious food. Hostels are overcrowded and lack sanitation,” he said.

When asked about the existing scholarship for Dalits and tribals pursuing professional courses, DMK propaganda secretary and member of the manifesto preparation committee clarified that the scheme proposed by his party would fully fund all the expense including tuition fees and hostel expense as well.