For marginalised students, no aid — for temples, crores: Gujarat govt’s skewed priorities

By Rajiv Shah

The Gujarat government’s reported decision to discontinue the ₹50,000 financial assistance provided to students from Nomadic and Denotified Tribes (N&DTs) pursuing diploma engineering courses has drawn strong criticism from social activists and concerned journalists across the state.

Among the first to react was noted activist Mittal Patel, who has long advocated for the rights of N&DT communities. Describing the decision as “deeply disappointing,” she pointed out that educational attainment among these communities is already extremely low. “Many students barely manage to pass Class 10, and very few go on to pursue diploma-level education,” she observed.

Patel added, “Most parents from these communities are unaware of what their children are studying. In lives dominated by daily hardship, how can they afford today’s costly education?” She emphasized that N&DTs remain “even beyond the margins of society” and that there are “very few schemes or provisions specifically designed for them.” According to her, cutting this assistance is a serious setback. “Promoting education in this community is essential, and such schemes are crucial for that purpose.”

Another strong response came from Mehul Manguben, a social activist-turned-journalist, who highlighted the contrast between this decision and another government announcement made on the same day. “Two news items caught my attention,” he wrote on social media. “First, the government has discontinued educational aid for N&DT students pursuing diploma courses in private colleges. Second, it has approved a ₹1,632 crore master plan for constructing the Gabbar Shakti Corridor at the Ambaji temple.”

“If you wonder why this is happening, the simple answer is: there’s no profit to be made in providing educational aid,” he commented, suggesting that the government’s priorities appear tilted towards religious infrastructure over educational empowerment.

The Gujarat Chief Minister’s Office issued an elaborate statement celebrating the temple project: “Now, with the vision of Vikas bhi, Virasat bhi, Ambaji Yatradham is set to undergo major development.” The ₹1,632 crore master plan, to be implemented over 50 years in two phases, envisions a major transformation of the Shri Ambaji Mata Temple complex in Danta taluka of Banaskantha district.

According to the official announcement, the first phase — estimated at ₹950 crore — will include the construction of a five-kilometre-long Shakti Corridor connecting the Ambaji Temple, Gabbar Parvat, and Mansarovar. Features include the development of Shakti Chowk and Gabbar Darshan Chowk via Shaktipath, thematic expansion of the temple area based on the mythology of Goddess Sati, pedestrian infrastructure, multi-level parking, Yatri Bhavans, and a light-and-sound show at the new Gabbar Arrival Plaza.

The second phase, costing ₹682 crore, will focus on further development around the Gabbar Temple, Ambaji Temple, Mansarovar area, and Sati Sarovar.

In contrast, information on the withdrawal of scholarship aid for N&DT students has not been published through official government sources. However, local Gujarati media outlets such as Gujarat Samachar reported the change, stating that it affects students who secured admission in self-financed diploma colleges without going through the centralized Admission Committee for Professional Courses (ACPC) process.

Earlier, even students who took direct admission in such colleges were eligible for financial aid. Starting this academic year, however, only students admitted through ACPC will qualify. This has caused confusion and disappointment among students from N&DT communities, many of whom had already enrolled expecting the continuation of previous aid.

According to City News Rajkot, an online news portal, the discontinued assistance was part of a higher education support scheme for N&DT students whose parents’ annual income was under ₹2 lakh. The scheme offered either the full annual amount covering registration, examination, and tuition fees or up to ₹50,000 — whichever was lower — directly credited to the students' bank accounts.

The portal noted that more than 2,000 students from these communities enroll in diploma programs each year. Many have already taken admission for the current academic session and are now left in uncertainty.

While there is a suggestion that students may explore alternative schemes such as the PM Yasasvi Scheme, Mukhyamantri Yuva Swavalamban Yojana (MYSY), and assistance for food and educational materials, these are limited in scope. MYSY, for instance, is available only to students scoring above 80%, and food assistance is irrelevant to those not residing in hostels.

The result, the portal said, is that “most students will now receive significantly less assistance than the ₹50,000 they were earlier entitled to.”

Comments

The soundtrack of resistance: How 'Sada Sada Ya Nabi' is fueling the Iran war

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The Persian track “ Sada Sada Ya Nabi ye ” by Hossein Sotoodeh has taken the world by storm. This viral media has cut across linguistic barriers to achieve cult status, reaching over 10 million views. The electrifying music and passionate rendition by the Iranian singer have resonated across the globe, particularly as the high-intensity military conflict involving Iran entered its second month in March 2026.

Kolkata dialogue flags policy and finance deficit in wetland sustainability

By A Representative Wetlands were the focus of India–Germany climate talks in Kolkata, where experts from government, business, and civil society stressed both their ecological importance and the urgent need for stronger conservation frameworks.

Beyond Lata: How Asha Bhosle redefined the female voice with her underrated versatility

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The news of iconic Asha Bhosle’s ‘untimely’ demise has shocked music lovers across the country. Asha Tai was 92 years young. Normally, people celebrate a passing at this age, but Asha Bhosle—much like another legend, Dev Anand—never made us feel she was growing old. She was perhaps the most versatile artist in Bombay cinema. Hailing from a family devoted to music, Asha’s journey to success and fame was not easy. Her elder sister, Lata Mangeshkar, had already become the voice of women in cinema, and most contemporaries like Shamshad Begum, Suraiya, and Noor Jehan had slowly faded into oblivion. Frankly, there was no second or third to Lata Mangeshkar; she became the first—and perhaps the only—choice for music directors and all those who mattered in filmmaking. Asha started her musical journey at age 10 with a Marathi film, but her first break in Hindustani cinema came with the film "Chunariya" (1948). Though she was not the first choice of ...

Maoist activity in India: Weakening structures, 'shifts' in leadership, strategy and ideology

By Harsh Thakor* Recent statements by government representatives have suggested that Maoism in India has been effectively eliminated, citing the weakening of central leadership and intensified security operations. These claims follow sustained counterinsurgency efforts across key regions, including central and eastern India. However, available information from security agencies and independent observers indicates that while the organizational structure of the CPI (Maoist) has been significantly disrupted, elements of the movement remain active. Reports acknowledge the continued presence of cadres in certain forested regions such as Bastar and parts of Dandakaranya, alongside smaller, decentralized units adapting their operational strategies.

From Manesar to Noida: Workers take to streets for bread, media looks away

By Sunil Kumar* Across several states in India, a workers’ movement is gathering momentum. This is not a movement born of luxury or ambition, nor a demand for power-sharing within the state. At its core lies a stark and basic plea: the right to survive with dignity—adequate food, and wages sufficient to afford it.

Midnight weeping: The sociology of tragic vision in Badri Narayan’s poetry

By Ravi Ranjan* Badri Narayan, a distinguished Hindi poet and social scientist, occupies a unique position in contemporary Indian intellectual life by bridging the worlds of creative literature and critical social inquiry. His poetic journey began significantly with the 1993 collection 'Saca Sune Hue Kaï Dina Hue' (Truth Heard Many Days Ago). As a social historian and cultural anthropologist, Narayan pioneered a methodological shift away from elite archives toward the oral traditions and folk myths of marginalized communities. He eventually legitimized "folk-ethnography" as a rigorous academic discipline during his tenure as Director of the G.B. Pant Social Science Institute.

Why link women’s reservation to delimitation? The unspoken political calculus

By Vikas Meshram* April 16, 2026, is likely to be recorded as a special day in the history of Indian democracy. In a three-day special session of Parliament, the central government is set to introduce a comprehensive package of three historic bills: the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026; the Delimitation Bill, 2026; and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The stated purpose of all three is the same: to implement the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (106th Constitutional Amendment) passed in 2023. However, the political intent concealed behind these measures — and their impact on the federal balance — is far more profound. It is absolutely essential to understand this.

Catholic union opposes FCRA amendments, warns of threat to Church institutions

By A Representative The All India Catholic Union (AICU) has raised serious concerns over what it describes as growing threats to religious freedom, minority rights, and constitutional safeguards in India, warning that recent policy and legislative trends could undermine the country’s secular and federal framework.

'It's power grab, not reform': Uttarakhand hills fear marginalization under new delimitation

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The proposed delimitation bill, coupled with the women’s reservation bill, is a calculated attempt to divert attention during state elections while laying the groundwork for long-term power consolidation through a north Indian hegemony. India’s constitution-making process was arduous, but it was guided by leaders deeply committed to unity and integrity. They ensured no community felt betrayed, and the foundation of modern India was laid on inclusivity. Any attempt to alter this balance must be approached with caution and respect for that legacy.

Search This Blog