After rule tweak, his daughter, bureaucrat’s son avail themselves of government scheme for the needy

Following a convenient tweak of the rules, Maharashra’s Social Justice Minister Rajkumar Badole and Social Justice Department Secretary Dinesh Waghmare have been able to enrol their own offspring in a government scheme meant to help poor Scheduled Caste students study abroad.

In 2003, the government launched a scheme to fully cover the costs of SC students aspiring to pursue higher studies abroad. The family income limit to avail the scheme was ₹6 lakh per annum. The benefits were available to students who secured admission in one of the top 300 universities under the QS World University Ranking system.

In June 2015, the government removed the income ceiling for students who secured admission in the top 100 universities, and specifically, in London School of Economics. “The scheme is meant for the poor. The move to remove the income limit was questionable. Besides, what was the rationale for removing it for the top 100 universities,” asked Priyadarshi Telang, convener, Dalit Adivasi Adhikar Andolan.

The 35 students listed as having benefited under the scheme for 2017-18 include Mr. Badole’s daughter Shruti Badole. She will be completing her Ph.D in Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Manchester, which has a QS World Ranking of 29. It also includes Mr. Waghmare’s son Antariksh, who will be doing M.Sc in Information Systems at Pennsylvania State University, ranked 95.

Mr. Badole confirmed that his daughter is a beneficiary. “As of now, only the list is out. No money has been paid. I had informed the Chief Minister about my daughter’s scholarship application. I will take a decision after speaking to the CM,” Mr. Badole said.

“Yes, my son will be studying abroad under this scheme,” Mr. Waghmare said. “We have followed all the rules. I was not the Department Secretary when the rules were changed. I did not interfere in the process.”

The Opposition has demanded Mr. Badole’s resignation. “The scheme is meant for the poor, not for the children of Ministers and Secretaries. Why were the rules changed? The CM must answer,” Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said. “BJP leaders are asking ordinary citizens to give up their LPG subsidy, but their Ministers are ensuring that their children get scholarships meant for the needy by changing the rules. The Social Justice Minister must resign,” said Dhananjay Munde of the NCP.