Rahul writes to PM, flags delay in scholarships for students from marginalised communities

Rahul Gandhi highlights poor hostel conditions and scholarship delays for marginalized students in letter to PM Modi.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, flagging the "deplorable" conditions in residential hostels for Dalit, ST, EBC, OBC and minority students and the delay in post-matric scholarships for those from marginalised communities.

In his letter to Mr. Modi, Mr. Gandhi urged the PM to resolve these two critical issues, which he said hinder education opportunities for the 90% of students who are from marginalised communities.

Also Read | Answer my questions if you have nothing to hide: Rahul Gandhi to Election Commission

"Firstly, the conditions in residential hostels for students from Dalit, ST, EBC, OBC and minority communities are deplorable. During a recent visit to Ambedkar Hostel in Darbhanga, Bihar, students complained about single rooms which 6-7 students were forced to share, unhygienic toilets, unsafe drinking water, lack of mess facilities, and no access to libraries or the internet," the Congress leader said.

"Secondly, post-matric scholarships for students from marginalised communities are plagued by delays and failures," Mr. Gandhi said and cited the example of Bihar where he claimed the scholarship portal was non-functional for three years and no student received a scholarship in 2021-22.

Also Read | Congress attempts to weave Gandhi and Ambedkar’s legacies into singular narrative of social justice

"Even thereafter, the number of Dalit students receiving scholarships fell by nearly half, from 1.36 lakh in FY23 to 0.69 lakh in FY24. Students further complain that the scholarship amounts are insultingly low," Mr. Gandhi said in his letter to PM Modi dated June 10.