Even after a change in government and a new cabinet taking charge, the Minority Development Department’s website remains frozen in time, displaying outdated information that raises serious concerns about administrative negligence. The official portal, which manages the study abroad scholarship programme for minority students, has not been updated since December 17 last year. Despite a state election and a new Chief Minister assuming office, the website still lists Eknath Shinde as the CM, with Ajit Pawar alongside the current CM Devendra Fadnavis as deputy chief ministers. Worse, the site continues to name Abdul Sattar as the Minister of Minority Development, even though Dattatray Vithibha Bhane now holds the portfolio in the new government.
This lack of urgency in updating crucial information has sparked outrage among students and activists, who say the government’s apathy towards minority students is glaringly evident. If a basic task like updating ministerial names is being ignored for months, it raises serious questions about whether key initiatives like the foreign education scholarship are being handled with any sincerity at all. “In case of grievances, who do the students reach out to if the information on the official portal remains updated,” wondered Kuldeep Ambekar, president of Student Helping Hand.
Scholarship process in limbo despite three advertisements
Beyond the embarrassing state of the website, the Social Welfare Department — which has been tasked with the implementation of the scholarship programme — has failed to release the final list of selected candidates for its study abroad scholarship programme, even after issuing three separate advertisements, the latest of which was published just last week as confirmed to the FPJ by a senior official from the Ministry of Social Justice. The scholarship, launched with the goal of enabling economically disadvantaged minority students to pursue higher education abroad, has instead turned into a nightmare of delays and mismanagement.
Students and activists furious over government neglect
Students who had applied months ago are still waiting for any communication, while the department remains silent on why the final list has not been published. Speaking to the FPJ, Ambekar strongly criticised the government’s inefficiency, saying, “This is the first year of the foreign education scholarship, yet the entire process has been handled in the most careless manner. The Social Justice Department completed verification and sent the final list to the ministry over a month ago. Why has it not been announced yet?”
“The total number of seats for this scholarship is already extremely low—only 75 students are selected per year. If these spots remain unfilled because of administrative failure, it would be a great injustice to those who need this support the most,” he added.
Government indifference hurting students’ future
With the academic year approaching rapidly, students who had planned to study abroad are stuck in limbo, uncertain whether they should wait for the scholarship or arrange alternative funding. “The delays could cost us our admissions, visas, and future prospects, all because of a government department that seems to be operating on autopilot,” a student said.
What should have been a landmark initiative to uplift minority students has instead become an example of bureaucratic inefficiency and disregard for student welfare, said Ambekar.
