Parliamentary Panel Flags Concerns Over Discontinuation of Minority Scholarship Schemes

A parliamentary panel criticized the discontinuation of minority scholarship schemes, citing delays and funding cuts. The Maulana Azad National Fellowship and Padho Pardesh schemes were canceled, with no replacements in place. The panel urged swift action to prevent disruptions, enhance monitoring, and ensure continued support for minority students.

A Parliamentary Standing Committee has raised concerns over the discontinuation of key scholarship schemes for minority students, highlighting delays in approvals and sharp funding cuts. The committee noted the termination of the Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) and Padho Pardesh schemes, which previously supported higher education and overseas studies for Buddhist, Christian, Jain, Muslim, Parsi, and Sikh students.

The report, tabled in Parliament, criticized the minority affairs ministry for failing to introduce alternative programmes, leaving many students without crucial financial aid. Funding for the pre-matric scholarship scheme was slashed to ₹326.16 crore for 2024-25, down from ₹1,378 crore in 2021-22. The ministry justified the reduction by stating that students from classes 1-8 are covered under the Right to Education Act, limiting the scheme to classes 9 and 10.

The committee urged the ministry to reconsider the allocation, warning that the current budget may not meet the needs of eligible students. It expressed frustration over the delay in formal approvals since 2021-22, calling for swift action to prevent disruptions in scholarship distribution.

A verification drive involving biometric authentication of 2.6 million students was launched following allegations of fraud in the scholarship system. The ministry acknowledged the delays but assured the process was complete.

The panel recommended enhanced monitoring to prevent future fraud and praised the higher-than-expected participation of girls, who availed over 50% of the scholarships despite a 30% reservation. It also called for broader educational initiatives, including free coaching and residential education, to uplift students from minority communities.

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The ministry agreed on the need for stronger support and is working to harmonize similar schemes across ministries for improved efficiency. The committee urged the ministry to expedite this process and ensure continued access to education for minority students.