Bihar Minister Calls for Equal Financial Support for Economically Weaker Students
Bihars Santosh Kumar Suman urges equal financial aid for economically weaker students in higher education to ensure social and economic justice.
Patna, November 3 (Daily Kiran) : Bihar’s Minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha leader, Santosh Kumar Suman, has called for equal financial support for economically weaker section (EWS) students pursuing higher and vocational education. He urged both central and state governments to develop a comprehensive assistance policy for EWS students.
Suman emphasized that the principle of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas” can only be achieved when economic justice accompanies social justice. Providing equal educational opportunities for economically disadvantaged students is a pressing need, he stated.
Currently, various scholarship programs and fee concessions are available for eligible students from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes. EWS students also receive some benefits based on family income at institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology and National Institutes of Technology. However, he noted that the scope of these benefits remains limited and inconsistent.
For example, EWS candidates do not receive fee waivers for applications to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exams. Suman highlighted the necessity of expanding financial assistance for economically weaker students. He proposed a comprehensive policy that would offer fee concessions for competitive exams such as the UPSC, Bihar Public Service Commission, Staff Selection Commission, National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, and Joint Entrance Examination. Additionally, he called for income-based concessions for enrollment and tuition fees at colleges and universities, along with scholarship provisions for professional courses in engineering, medicine, and management.
Suman also suggested that support should be provided for hostel fees, dining expenses, and other essential academic costs to ensure that financial constraints do not hinder capable students from pursuing higher education. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, and all state governments to take initiative in this direction.
He clarified that the aim is not to reduce benefits for any particular group but to ensure equal opportunities for all economically weaker students. While reservations serve a constitutional and social purpose, financial assistance should be based on the actual economic conditions of needy families. He concluded that social justice will be more effective when it is accompanied by economic justice.
