SIO Karnataka urges CM Siddaramaiah to increase education budget for minority students
Bengaluru: The Students Islamic Organization of India (SIO) Karnataka Zone has written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, urging the state government to increase funding for minority students in the upcoming budget.
The organisation highlighted that the Union Government's discontinuation of key scholarships, including the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) Pre-Metric, Post-Metric, and Maulana Azad Fellowship, has led to financial difficulties and student dropouts. SIO demanded that the state government allocate funds to cover these scholarships and prioritise student welfare over infrastructure spending.
They also pointed out that PhD students last year received only ₹10,000 as a fellowship, significantly lower than the previous ₹25,000. SIO has requested the government to restore the earlier amount to ease financial burdens on researchers.
Citing the AISHE 2021-22 report, which showed a lower Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) for Muslim students compared to the national average, SIO proposed a special scheme for coaching minority students for CUET, GATE, and entrance exams for institutions like IITs, IIMs, and NLSIU.
The organisation provided a detailed budget proposal for various schemes under the Directorate of Minorities, including:
- Pre-metric scholarship: ₹250 crore for 15 lakh students
Post-Metric & Merit-cum-means scholarship: ₹700 crore for 10 lakh students
PhD fellowship: ₹300 crore for 1,000 students
Fee reimbursement: ₹150 crore for 15,000 students
B.Ed. & D.Ed. incentives: ₹15 crore for 3,000 students
Vidyasiri scheme: ₹25 crore for 15,000 students
Coaching for competitive exams: ₹2 crore for 1,000 students
Nursing & Para-Medical course incentives: ₹45 crore for 1,500 students
Additionally, SIO stressed the importance of the Arivu Loan Scheme, urging the government to allocate ₹200 crore for 20,000 students and extend its benefits to those in management quota seats. They also called for a waiver of previous loan installments due to the lack of job opportunities for graduates.
The letter was also sent to several key officials, including Minority Welfare Minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan and Higher Education Minister Dr. M.C. Sudhakar.
SIO emphasised that a significant portion of Karnataka’s minority population lives below the poverty line and that increased investment in education is essential for their social and economic upliftment.
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RCB beat MI by 18 runs after batters fire
Mumbai (PTI): Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt and Virat Kohli blasted half-centuries as the defending champions beat Mumbai Indians by 18 runs in an Indian Premier League match here on Sunday.
Salt (78 off 36 balls) and Kohli (50 off 38 balls) stitched together a 120-run stand for the opening wicket before Patidar scored a rapid 53 off just 20 balls as RCB posted 240 for 4.
In response, Mumbai Indians were restricted to 222 for 5, with RCB spinner Suyash Sharma (2/47) putting the skids on the home side with a double strike in the eighth over, from which they could not recover.
Sherfane Rutherford top-scored for MI with an unbeaten 71 off 31 balls.
While opener Rohit Sharma appeared to be struggling with a hamstring issue and had to retire hurt on 19, his partner Ryan Rickelton made 37, while Suryakumar Yadav (33) and Hardik Pandya (40) were the other contributors for MI.
Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 240 for 4 in 20 overs (Phil Salt 78, Virat Kohli 50, Rajat Patidar 53, Tim David 35 not out).
Mumbai Indians: 222 for 5 in 20 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 71 not out, Ryan Rickelton 37, Hardik Pandya 40; Suyash Sharma 2/47).
