Accessing higher education: Affirmative action and structured inequality – The Indian experience

Abstract

Education is considered as an important means for development of weaker sections like the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the contemporary period of globalization. However, due to their traditional socio-economic handicaps, their access to, performance and sustenance in education is hampered. The government committed itself to compensate their deprivation through various measures. Special provisions in education is one such measure. Studies revealed that the enrolment in higher education among these communities is very low and hence the scheme of post-matric scholarship is introduced since independence. The sole objective behind the scheme has been, in addition to many other facilities, to support their education financially to meet daily (other) expenses. The assumption has been that this material support will encourage and motivate them for higher education. It is an established fact that the post-matric scholarship scheme proves to be one of the major incentives for these communities. However, a comprehensive evaluation of the scheme was long overdue pertaining to its strengths and weakness besides its impact. This paper is based on primary d a t a collected from two states: Maharashtra and Rajasthan. The study tried to address issues like the socio-economic and educational background of the beneficiaries, implementation procedure, colleges wherein the beneficiaries were studying, problems and experiences of the beneficiaries while availing themselves of the scheme. The findings show that there are several weaknesses in implementing the scheme and yet it is found to be very useful for the beneficiaries. The scheme needs to be revamped in a big way.