Jharkhand CM urges PM Modi to enhance central funding for scholarship schemes in state
Ranchi, July 30
Jharkhand Chief Minister, Hemant Soren, has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to enhance financial assistance for scholarship schemes benefiting students from Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, and minority communities in the state.
He said that due to the release of funds far below the state's requirements, lakhs of eligible students are unable to receive scholarships on time, which is adversely affecting their education.
In his letter, the Chief Minister stated that the Jharkhand government has implemented a scholarship distribution system based on the annual income of a student's parents or guardians, rather than community affiliation, to ensure social justice and equality.
However, the state's geographical challenges, limited resources, and a large underprivileged population continue to create financial constraints, he said.
Highlighting the funding gap, Soren noted that under the pre-matric scholarship scheme for Backward Class students, the state had sought Rs 66.14 crore for 2024-25 but received only Rs 12.61 crore from the Centre. For 2025-26, against a demand of Rs 45.91 crore, only Rs 3.95 crore has been sanctioned.
A similar shortfall was reported in the post-matric scholarship scheme. The state sought Rs 353.21 crore for 2024-25 but received only Rs 33.57 crore. For 2025-26, it requested Rs 370.87 crore, while only Rs 58.22 crore has been released.
According to the Chief Minister, the funding deficit has prevented the students from receiving scholarship benefits on time.
Soren further stated that central support for scholarship programmes aimed at Scheduled Tribe students has also been inadequate. He pointed out that no funds were released by the Centre during the 2025-26 financial year for either pre-matric or post-matric scholarships for ST students. The Rs 200 crore released in 2024-25, he said, largely pertained to arrears and partial central contributions from previous years.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the disparities in scholarship, saying that the pre-matric scholarship amount for ST students is Rs 3,000 per student, compared to Rs 3,500 for SC students and Rs 4,000 for Backward Class students, and urged the Centre to remove this disparity.
Referring to minority welfare, Soren said that although minorities constitute 23.29 per cent of Jharkhand's population, the Centre has not released any funds under minority scholarship schemes since 2021-22. He requested that the scheme be revived and financial support resumed.
The Chief Minister urged the Prime Minister to formulate a special policy for economically weaker and developing states and increase the Centre's contribution to post-matric scholarships and other welfare schemes to ensure uninterrupted educational support for deserving students.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I'm a development economist and this funding gap is staggering. For post-matric scholarships, Jharkhand requested Rs 353 crore and got Rs 33 crore - that's less than 10%! No wonder students drop out. India cannot become a developed nation if states like Jharkhand are starved of funds for education. The PM needs to act, not just talk about sabka saath, sabka vikas.
Soren ji has raised genuine concerns. But let's not forget that the state also needs to improve its own resource mobilization. Relying only on Centre won't solve everything. That said, the fact that minority scholarship funds haven't been released since 2021-22 is shocking. Minorities are 23% of the population there - that's a lot of young minds being left behind. 🥺
I appreciate Hemant Soren for writing this letter - it's a necessary push for accountability. The income-based scholarship model Jharkhand has adopted actually sounds progressive. But what's the point if the money isn't there? The Centre's allocation seems arbitrary and unfair. For a state with so many geographical challenges, this is a double blow to students from poor families.
Sad to see such disparity in a country that claims to prioritize education. My cousin teaches in a government school in Dumka and she says many talented students drop out because they simply can't afford to continue. The Centre should listen and create a special policy for states like Jharkhand. Education cannot wait! 📚
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