After OBC organisations brought the issue to the attention of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, he quickly convened a meeting. The government acted swiftly, selecting the eligible students and approving the scholarships within three days
The intervention of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis helped 75 deserving students from the Other Backward Classes (OBC), Vimukta Jati and Nomadic Tribes (VJNT) and Special Backward Class (SBC) communities get scholarship for higher education abroad for the academic year 2024-25 within three days.
This decision was formalised with a government resolution issued on September 26. As the issue was brought to the notice of Fadnavis, he convened a meeting to assess the situation. The government acted swiftly, selecting the eligible students and approving the scholarships within three days. This swift action has been appreciated by OBC organisations.
The Foreign Education Scholarship Scheme for the students of VJNT, OBC and SBC communities was first implemented in 2019-20. Under this scheme, meritorious students from these communities are given financial assistance to pursue higher education in foreign universities. As per the latest government decision, the number of scholarships has been set at 75 for the 2024-25 academic year.
Applications for the scholarship were invited earlier this year. The Directorate of OBC Welfare, under the leadership of its director, formed a committee to scrutinise the applications. The committee not only ensured that the applications were thoroughly reviewed, but also assisted in correcting any discrepancies found during the scrutiny process. After carefully evaluating the merit of the applicants, a final list of eligible candidates was submitted to the government on September 10.
Following this, another committee, headed by the Principal Secretary of the OBC Welfare Department, held a meeting on September 23, where the final 75 students were selected. These students, chosen from various academic streams, will now have the opportunity to pursue their higher studies at prestigious international universities.
The scholarships, however, come with a condition — the beneficiaries must sign an agreement committing to use their acquired skills and knowledge for the service of the country after completing their education abroad. This clause ensures that the benefits of the scheme are not just personal but also contribute to the nation’s growth.
