For marginalised students, no aid — for temples, crores: Gujarat govt’s skewed priorities

The Gujarat government’s reported decision to discontinue the ₹50,000 financial assistance provided to students from Nomadic and Denotified Tribes (N&DTs) pursuing diploma engineering courses has drawn strong criticism from social activists and concerned journalists across the state.

Among the first to react was noted activist Mittal Patel, who has long advocated for the rights of N&DT communities. Describing the decision as “deeply disappointing,” she pointed out that educational attainment among these communities is already extremely low. “Many students barely manage to pass Class 10, and very few go on to pursue diploma-level education,” she observed.

Patel added, “Most parents from these communities are unaware of what their children are studying. In lives dominated by daily hardship, how can they afford today’s costly education?” She emphasized that N&DTs remain “even beyond the margins of society” and that there are “very few schemes or provisions specifically designed for them.” According to her, cutting this assistance is a serious setback. “Promoting education in this community is essential, and such schemes are crucial for that purpose.”

Another strong response came from Mehul Manguben, a social activist-turned-journalist, who highlighted the contrast between this decision and another government announcement made on the same day. “Two news items caught my attention,” he wrote on social media. “First, the government has discontinued educational aid for N&DT students pursuing diploma courses in private colleges. Second, it has approved a ₹1,632 crore master plan for constructing the Gabbar Shakti Corridor at the Ambaji temple.”

“If you wonder why this is happening, the simple answer is: there’s no profit to be made in providing educational aid,” he commented, suggesting that the government’s priorities appear tilted towards religious infrastructure over educational empowerment.

The Gujarat Chief Minister’s Office issued an elaborate statement celebrating the temple project: “Now, with the vision of Vikas bhi, Virasat bhi, Ambaji Yatradham is set to undergo major development.” The ₹1,632 crore master plan, to be implemented over 50 years in two phases, envisions a major transformation of the Shri Ambaji Mata Temple complex in Danta taluka of Banaskantha district.

According to the official announcement, the first phase — estimated at ₹950 crore — will include the construction of a five-kilometre-long Shakti Corridor connecting the Ambaji Temple, Gabbar Parvat, and Mansarovar. Features include the development of Shakti Chowk and Gabbar Darshan Chowk via Shaktipath, thematic expansion of the temple area based on the mythology of Goddess Sati, pedestrian infrastructure, multi-level parking, Yatri Bhavans, and a light-and-sound show at the new Gabbar Arrival Plaza.

The second phase, costing ₹682 crore, will focus on further development around the Gabbar Temple, Ambaji Temple, Mansarovar area, and Sati Sarovar.

In contrast, information on the withdrawal of scholarship aid for N&DT students has not been published through official government sources. However, local Gujarati media outlets such as Gujarat Samachar reported the change, stating that it affects students who secured admission in self-financed diploma colleges without going through the centralized Admission Committee for Professional Courses (ACPC) process.

Earlier, even students who took direct admission in such colleges were eligible for financial aid. Starting this academic year, however, only students admitted through ACPC will qualify. This has caused confusion and disappointment among students from N&DT communities, many of whom had already enrolled expecting the continuation of previous aid.

According to City News Rajkot, an online news portal, the discontinued assistance was part of a higher education support scheme for N&DT students whose parents’ annual income was under ₹2 lakh. The scheme offered either the full annual amount covering registration, examination, and tuition fees or up to ₹50,000 — whichever was lower — directly credited to the students' bank accounts.

The portal noted that more than 2,000 students from these communities enroll in diploma programs each year. Many have already taken admission for the current academic session and are now left in uncertainty.

While there is a suggestion that students may explore alternative schemes such as the PM Yasasvi Scheme, Mukhyamantri Yuva Swavalamban Yojana (MYSY), and assistance for food and educational materials, these are limited in scope. MYSY, for instance, is available only to students scoring above 80%, and food assistance is irrelevant to those not residing in hostels.

The result, the portal said, is that “most students will now receive significantly less assistance than the ₹50,000 they were earlier entitled to.”