Future of SC/ST students hangs in balance as govt stops education grants

Kochi: As educational grants for the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) dry up, SC/ST students in the state find it difficult to continue their studies. This was the main concern raised at a convention hosted in Kochi by Adivasi Gothra Maha Sabha (AGMS), where numerous students across the state narrated the hardships they face. Under graduate, postgraduate and research students are mostly met with the plight. The financial support provided to the students belonging to SC/ST communities includes hostel allowance, pocket money, day-scholar allowance, and lump sum grants. “I am not able to enrol for a PG course despite clearing the entrance test of three universities. This is because my certificates are withheld by my college as the government has not remitted the fee,” said Rahul G, a law student from Kannur. Nimitha N, a Kasaragod native doing diploma in elementary education (DElEd), said the college she studied did not have hostel facilities and she had to stay in a private accommodation. The government has not provided the funds and her family is debt-ridden. Though Namitha had sent letters to the state minister for SC/ST detailing her plight, there was no response. “Though all tribal communities are facing crisis, the condition of Adiya, Paniya, Kattunaikar and Vettu Kuruman communities from Wayanad and Kurumba Koraga from Attapadi, who are landless and extremely backward, is pathetic,” said Manikandan C, acting chairman of Adishakti Summer School, a wing of AGMS.AGMS leader M Geethanandan said the one-time settlement of the grants has not been done in the previous academic year and the dues haven’t been paid yet. “We appeal to the government to allot the fund separately to the colleges and to the students. Funds under heads like hostel allowance, pocket money, day-scholar allowance, and lump sum grants should be sent directly to the students,” he said. Geethanandan said the grant given to the students should be paid on a monthly basis. As per the estimate of AGMS, nearly hundred students had dropped out of colleges across the state in the last two years due to the lack of availability of government grants. TNN