The Maharashtra government has announced 100 per cent fellowship support for PhD students belonging to the OBC, Nomadic Tribes (NT), Vimukta Jati (VJ), and SBC categories, bringing an end to the ongoing protests in front of the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Research and Training Institute (Mahajyoti). The decision follows months of peaceful demonstrations as students sought equitable financial support for their academic pursuits.
The announcement marks a crucial milestone for the students, many of whom have been struggling to secure financial aid for their research. The fellowship will provide them much-needed relief, enabling them to continue their doctoral studies without the burden of financial constraints.
The student protests, which had gathered momentum over the past few months, were driven by a call for uniformity in the disbursement of fellowships. The protesters demanded that Mahajyoti students receive the same financial support as their counterparts at the Babasaheb Ambedkar Research and Training Institute (BARTI), where PhD scholars were granted 100 per cent fellowship.
Mahajyoti, tasked with providing financial aid to students from marginalised communities, had not been offering full scholarships, leading to unrest. Applications for the fellowship were invited between January 2022 and August 2023, and 869 students were deemed eligible. However, these students were unable to access full fellowships, prompting calls for reform.
Speaking to News18, student Shantaram Jadhav welcomed the decision. “It is a great step by the state government of Maharashtra as students like me who come from poor financial backgrounds find it difficult to sustain while pursuing their PhD. But now we all are relieved.”
Another student, Yogita Pawar, said it was not easy convincing the government to implement the support. “We had to fight for it but finally, the government was convinced and decided in our favour. I will call it a landmark decision for students like me who want to pursue their PhD but have very limited financial resources. This decision will help boost the morale of many students like me who come from rural Maharashtra.”
The decision to grant full fellowship to Mahajyoti students comes in the wake of a similar concession made to PhD students at BARTI. Last year, 763 PhD scholars at BARTI were awarded full fellowship after they too had raised concerns over the government’s interim policy that capped the number of fellowships per institution at 200. Following a student-led protest, the state government revised its policy, granting 100 per cent fellowship to all eligible students. The success of the BARTI movement inspired Mahajyoti students to seek the same level of support.
A government resolution is expected to be issued shortly, formally cementing the policy.
The decision was also significantly influenced by the intervention of the National OBC Federation, whose president, Dr Babanrao Taywade, held meetings with key officials, including Mahajyoti’s managing director Rajesh Khawale. Taywade advocated for the students, emphasising the need for financial equity across institutions.
As a result of the announcement, the students have withdrawn their protests, expressing satisfaction with the government’s response. The fellowship will now enable hundreds of scholars from disadvantaged backgrounds to focus on their research, contributing to academic growth and social progress.
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