The Crossbill News Desk
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, raising alarm over the “deplorable” conditions in residential hostels for students belonging to Dalit, Scheduled Tribes (ST), Extremely Backward Classes (EBC), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and minority communities.
In his letter dated June 10, Gandhi also drew attention to delays and dysfunction in the disbursal of post-matriculation scholarships, urging immediate government intervention on both fronts, The Hindu reported.
Citing a recent visit to the Ambedkar Hostel in Darbhanga, Bihar, Gandhi said students reported being forced to share small rooms with six to seven occupants, along with unhygienic toilets, unsafe drinking water, absence of mess facilities, and no access to libraries or internet.
“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,” he wrote.
Highlighting systemic failures in scholarship disbursement, Gandhi said the Bihar government’s scholarship portal has remained non-functional for three years, resulting in no scholarships being awarded in 2021–22.
He pointed out that even after limited restoration, the number of Dalit students receiving scholarships dropped and the amounts disbursed were “insultingly low.”
“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,” Gandhi stated.
He called for a nationwide audit of residential hostels to ensure adequate infrastructure, sanitation, food, and academic support, along with sufficient funding to fix shortcomings.
Gandhi also demanded a timely release of scholarship funds, an increase in their amounts, and better implementation of the post-matric scholarship scheme.
“I am sure you agree that India cannot progress unless youth from marginalised communities progress. I look forward to your positive response,” he wrote in his letter.
In his letter dated June 10, Gandhi also drew attention to delays and dysfunction in the disbursal of post-matriculation scholarships, urging immediate government intervention on both fronts, The Hindu reported.
Citing a recent visit to the Ambedkar Hostel in Darbhanga, Bihar, Gandhi said students reported being forced to share small rooms with six to seven occupants, along with unhygienic toilets, unsafe drinking water, absence of mess facilities, and no access to libraries or internet.
“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,” he wrote.
Highlighting systemic failures in scholarship disbursement, Gandhi said the Bihar government’s scholarship portal has remained non-functional for three years, resulting in no scholarships being awarded in 2021–22.
He pointed out that even after limited restoration, the number of Dalit students receiving scholarships dropped and the amounts disbursed were “insultingly low.”
“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,” Gandhi stated.
He called for a nationwide audit of residential hostels to ensure adequate infrastructure, sanitation, food, and academic support, along with sufficient funding to fix shortcomings.
Gandhi also demanded a timely release of scholarship funds, an increase in their amounts, and better implementation of the post-matric scholarship scheme.
“I am sure you agree that India cannot progress unless youth from marginalised communities progress. I look forward to your positive response,” he wrote in his letter.
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