Gujarat Congress President and Rajya Sabha MP Shaktisinh Gohil has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of betraying tribal communities by discontinuing the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for students admitted through the management quota in the state.
The scheme, which was claimed to be introduced on July 01, 2010 under the Congress-led central government, provided financial support to Scheduled Tribe (ST) students pursuing post-matric education.
Addressing the press conference at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan in Ahmedabad, he said, “This government must help those from backward classes, not take away their opportunities. The BJP’s fake propaganda surrounding tribal activists such as Birsa Munda must stop.”
He alleged that a circular issued by the BJP-led state government on October 28 announced the discontinuation of the scheme. The move has left thousands of tribal students without financial aid, with an estimated 3,700 ST students currently enrolled in technical courses being directly affected.
The scheme covered a range of professional courses, including nursing, pharmacy, management, MCA and paramedics as well as allowed students admitted through paid seats to access scholarships. Funding was split between the Centre (75%) and the state (25%).
Congress MLA Kanti Kharadi criticised the decision, stating, “This government is making the poor even poorer and harassing students from marginalised communities. They are snatching away the rights of tribal children who rely on such scholarships for a brighter future.”
Gohil further elaborated on the impact, saying, “Tribal children received scholarships that allowed them to pursue careers in fields like nursing and engineering. The BJP’s decision to revoke this support is deeply condemnable. Those from backward classes need equal opportunities not policies that push them further behind.”
In response, the Congress party announced a series of actions, including awareness campaigns under the banner of the “Jan Jagruti Abhiyan.” These campaigns will focus on tribal-dominated districts to inform affected communities about the decision and its consequences.
The party also plans to submit petitions to district collectors across the state, demanding the reinstatement of the scholarship.
“We will ensure our voices are heard and our rights restored. This BJP government is against tribal communities and they do not respect them,” Kharadi told VOI.
Meetings with district Congress leaders have been scheduled to coordinate protests and demonstrations.
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