Rahul Gandhi Urges PM Modi to Address Delays in Scholarships and Poor Hostel Conditions for Marginalised Students
Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi wrote to PM Narendra Modi, urging immediate action on two critical issues affecting marginalised students. He highlighted deplorable conditions in residential hostels, citing overcrowding and poor sanitation, and significant delays and failures in post-matric scholarship disbursement. Gandhi called for a nationwide hostel audit, adequate funding, timely scholarship payments, increased amounts, and better coordination with states to ensure educational opportunities for these communities.
Unpacked:
Rahul Gandhi pointed out issues such as overcrowded rooms (6–7 students sharing), unhygienic toilets, unsafe drinking water, inadequate mess facilities, and lack of access to libraries or the internet in hostels for marginalized students.
Delays in post-matric scholarships hinder students’ ability to pay for basic needs, tuition, and living expenses, potentially forcing them to leave their studies. In states like Bihar, technical failures led to years without aid, severely impacting educational opportunities for these communities.
India’s student accommodation market is growing, with managed housing and co-living spaces emerging. However, challenges persist: many facilities lack adequate infrastructure, consistent regulation, and affordability, leaving a large segment—especially marginalized students—underserved despite expanding options.
The government provides post-matric scholarships and runs various hostel schemes for marginalized communities. However, implementation has faced challenges, including delayed payments, inadequate funding, and poor oversight, prompting ongoing demands for reform and better monitoring.