Funds will be released in a couple of days for Malaysia-based PhD scholar: Minister
He noted that out of 437 applicants received this year, 365 students have been sent abroad, with a total budgetary allocation of ₹131 crore. Last year, although 601 out of 609 applicants were selected, only 181 students were sent abroad under an allocated budget of ₹84.89 crore, he said. The govt is committed to supporting the education so that he can complete his studies successfully, he said.
He said the social welfare and adi dravidar welfare department had already submitted a report outlining the assistance provided so far. Villupuram: The govt will release the pending scholarship funds within a couple of days for Malaysia-based dalit PhD scholar Bharathidasan, who is pursuing his doctoral studies under the Annal Ambedkar Overseas Higher Education Scholarship Scheme, assured social justice minister Vanni Arasu. The tuition fees for the current academic year, along with other expenses, have already been disbursed. The remaining financial allocation will be transferred in a couple of days. Referring to Bharathidasan as his younger brother, the minister affirmed that the govt stands firmly by dalit students to safeguard their educational aspirations. Highlighting the govt’s achievements in supporting dalit students studying abroad, he shared details comparing past and current statistics.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the observation of the death anniversary of late social reformer Rettamalai Srinivasan at Tindivanam in Villupuram district on Friday, the minister appealed to one and all not to politicise the issue.
The minister noted that after assuming charge, he pursued the matter with the finance secretary to secure additional funding, breaking past benchmarks. He dismissed charges levelled by the opposition leaders, including DMK president and former chief minister M K Stalin and appealed to them not to use the issue for political gain.