Pune: In a major relief for candidates of the Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Research, Training, and Human Development Institute (SARTHI), the state government has decided to grant 100% post-graduate scholarships to 969 candidates, effective from their registration date.
This decision comes after a prolonged struggle, with candidates demanding parity in scholarship benefits similar to other research institutions.
The demand for uniform post-graduate scholarships had gained momentum over the last two years, with candidates staging protests and submitting petitions to highlight the disparity.
The Social Justice and Special Assistance Department had previously announced on July 25 that eligible candidates from various research institutes, including SARTHI, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Research and Training Institute (BARTI), and Mahatma Jotiba Phule Research and Training Institute (MahaJyoti), would receive a 50% scholarship after document verification and affidavit submission.
Among the 3,545 total candidates, 763 from BARTI, 1,453 from MahaJyoti, and 1,329 from SARTHI were included in the scheme. However, the government later approved 100% post-graduate scholarships for BARTI's candidates on September 10, sparking discontent among SARTHI candidates, who were still only receiving 50% scholarships.
The SARTHI candidates voiced concerns of discrimination, arguing that they should receive the same 100% benefit. This led to petitions and protests by SARTHI candidates, pressing the government for uniformity in scholarship distribution.
Their demand was finally met when the planning department agreed to provide 100% scholarships to SARTHI's 969 eligible candidates, effective from the date of their registration, thereby aligning their benefits with those received by BARTI candidates.
Researcher candidate Saurabh Shinde, who had been part of the protest, expressed relief, stating, "For the past two years, we have been demanding equal scholarships for all research candidates. The government's decision has finally given us the justice we've been fighting for."