Centre discontinues Maulana Azad Fellowship for minority students

After the Centre's announcement that Maulana Azad Fellowship for minority students is not available anymore, students' organisations across the country have called for protests against the government's decision.

Minority Affairs Minister Smriti Irani announced in Lok Sabha that after restricting the pre-matric scholarship for minority students, the Ministry of Minority Affairs has also stopped Maulana Azad Fellowship — dedicated to pursuing higher education — to minority students, from 2022-23.

“Since the MANF scheme overlaps with various other fellowship schemes for higher education being implemented by the government and minority students are already covered under such schemes, hence, the government has decided to discontinue the MANF scheme from 2022-23," she said, as reported by Indian Express.

"As per the data provided by the UGC, 6,722 candidates were selected under the fellowship scheme between 2014-15 and 2021-22 with a cumulative disbursal of INR 738.85 crore," she added.

The Maulana Azad Fellowship scheme is a five-year fellowship provided by the Central government in the form of financial assistance to six notified minority communities – Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, Jain, Parsi and Sikh — to pursue M Phils and PhDs. The scheme covers all universities and institutions recognised by the University Grants Commission. It is implemented by the Minority Affairs ministry through the UGC.

About increasing awareness of welfare schemes for minorities she said in a written reply in Parliament, "The Government has taken up multi-media campaigns to spread awareness of welfare schemes meant for minorities through print and electronic media as well as through social media and the Ministry’s website. In addition, outdoor publicity is also being done by organizing Hunar Haats to further promote traditional crafts/arts, generate employment and strengthen the market linkages of Minority artisans both from urban and rural areas."

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