Kerala government cuts scholarships for minority students by half citing financial crisis

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has reduced scholarships for minority community students by 50% due to the ongoing financial crisis, leaving the future of thousands of students uncertain. Nine out of the eleven scholarship programmes, initially allocated ₹13.6 crore, offered by the Minority Welfare Department have been affected by this drastic reduction.

The government maintains that the cuts are being implemented based on priority. However, the significant reduction in educational assistance for minority students raises serious concerns about the state's policy priorities and commitment to social justice.

The Prof Joseph Mundassery Scholarship, which had been allocated ₹5.2 crore for the current year, is the most severely impacted. This scholarship has long been a crucial support for high-achieving students from the Muslim, Sikh, Jain, and Parsi communities. It provides ₹10,000 to students who secure an A-Plus in all subjects in the SSLC examination and ₹15,000 to those who score 80% in higher secondary or 75% in vocational higher secondary courses. Priority is given to students from below-poverty-line (BPL) families, while provisions are also made for students from economically weaker sections of the above-poverty-line (APL) category. 

The Mother Teresa Scholarship, which supports students from Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, and Parsi communities pursuing diploma courses in government nursing and paramedical institutions, has also been affected. The revised funding for this scholarship is ₹33.1 lakh.

The APJ Abdul Kalam Scholarship, another vital source of support for minority students, has also been slashed by half. Originally worth ₹6,000, this scholarship assists students who secure admission to government-approved institutions based on merit, with special priority given to BPL families. It also allocates 30% of the funds for female students, meaning the cuts could severely affect young women from disadvantaged backgrounds, who already face numerous barriers in accessing higher education.

White speaking to The Times of India, IUML leader M K Muneer said. "The LDF govt always speaks about the younger generation and knowledge economy. This is contradictory to that stance. They justify the Plan cuts citing a financial crisis and claim they are prioritising essential expenditures. If this so-called prioritisation results in slashing scholarships meant for underprivileged students, it clearly exposes where the govt's real priorities lie". 

Scholarships for students pursuing education abroad, financial assistance for civil service coaching, and reimbursement for UGC coaching have also been slashed, further limiting the opportunities available to deserving students.