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For most Indian students who study abroad, the experience is one that broadens their horizons, and gives them access to greater opportunities than they would have encountered at home. But the cost of education in most foreign universities is prohibitively expensive, taking it out of the reach of millions of young Indians.

On paper, the National Overseas Scholarship aims to remedy this, offering students from marginalised communities funding to help them pay for tuition and living costs overseas.

But as Johanna Deeksha found, many students who win the scholarship have a dismal experience abroad. The stipend is too low to ensure that they do not have to worry about their expenses, and sluggish administrative procedures leave them struggling to make ends meet.
“Getting a government scholarship to study abroad is a life-altering experience for students from Bahujan communities,” Deeksha said.

“But to not even provide students enough funds to buy a mattress, eat three meals a day, buy a coffee is unacceptable. The government must do better to ensure students have the support they need to thrive.”

You can read the story here.

A government scholarship took them abroad. But then left them in a lurch

The National Overseas Scholarship helps students from marginalised groups study abroad. But the low stipend leaves them struggling even for food and clothing.

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Ajay Krishnan
Senior Editor

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