Guj govt gets NHRC notice for denial of scholarships to dalits

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today issued a notice to the Gujarat government over alleged denial of scholarships to 3,125 dalit students in Ahmedabad.
According to an NHRC statement, the commission has sought a report in this matter from the Chief Secretary of Gujarat within four weeks.
The notice was issued after the rights body took suo motu cognisance of a media report alleging denial of scholarships to 3,125 dalit students in Ahmedabad.
Of the 3,215 dalit students, application of 1,613 students are pending, while 1,512 have been denied scholarships due to lack of funds. Rs three crore have allegedly been siphoned off from the money meant for them, the statement said.

The Commission observed that the contents of the report, if true, paint a worrisome picture and constitute a gross violation of human rights.
"In view of socio-economic backwardness, they (the dalit students) deserve to be given special care and that is why such special provisions for scholarships to them have been made. Any failure in their implementation would defeat the whole purpose," the statement said.