Pune: A technical flaw in Maharashtra’s MahaDBT portal has continued to deny pre-matric scholarships to children of waste pickers, manual scavengers and sanitation workers studying in self-financed schools, leaving thousands of eligible students across the state without financial assistance for the third consecutive year.The issue remains unresolved with the online portal still not providing an option for students from self- financed schools to submit applications under the Centre’s pre-matric scholarship scheme.According to the scheme guidelines issued by the Union govt, all eligible students studying in recognised govt and private schools with a valid UDISE code are entitled to receive the scholarship.However, after the application process shifted to the MahaDBT portal in the academic year 2023-24, the option for students studying in such schools was removed, making them ineligible to apply.Pune-based Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchayat (KKPKP), an organisation representing waste pickers, claimed that 140 children of waste pickers associated with the organisation in Pune have been affected. It estimated that hundreds of students across Maharashtra continue to be deprived of the scholarship because of the portal issue.The organisation will meet minister of state Madhuri Misal to seek an immediate resolution. It has also warned of an agitation along with affected students if the changes are not made to the portal.Yogesh Manjula, general secretary of KKPKP, said, “Now, the social welfare commissioner’s office says the issue is pending with the state govt. However, this is a Central govt scheme, and its guidelines clearly state that all eligible students studying in recognised govt and private schools are entitled to the scholarship. There is no need for a separate govt resolution or any additional clarification from the state. The issue is stuck in administrative delays.”Yogesh Manjula, general secretary of KKPKP, said that the Central scheme clearly includes students from all recognised schools. Despite this, the social welfare commissioner’s office has excluded private schools from the portal without any govt resolution.“Eight days have passed since the commissioner sought 15 days to resolve the issue. If the corrections are not made to the MahaDBT portal in the remaining period, we will launch a strong protest along with the students,” Manjula said.Before the scholarship process was shifted online, applications were accepted offline, allowing eligible students to receive the benefit regularly. The problem surfaced after the migration to the MahaDBT portal, the organisation said, adding that it has submitted seven to eight representations to the social welfare administration over three years without any concrete action.Pramod Jadhav, assistant commissioner of the state social welfare department, said that children of waste pickers studying in private and self-financed schools should receive the benefit of the pre-matric scholarship scheme.“Since the application process has been shifted to the MahaDBT system, and the system is under state control, guidance has been sought from govt regarding the inclusion of such students for 2024-25. Further action will be taken after the instructions are received from the govt,” he added.
