ABVP's rally today against 'neglect' of SC-ST students

PATNA: Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) will organize a 'Hunkar' rally here on Thursday to draw the attention of the state government towards the alleged negligence of the needs of scheduled caste and scheduled tribe people.
ABVP organization secretary Gopal Sharma said over 5,000 students from across the state will participate in the rally. The SC/ST people in the state are in a very bad condition.
The literacy rate of SC people in Bihar is 28.5% while it is 54.69% in the country. "The state government claims that it works for the people belonging to the weaker sections of the society. But the statements sound good only in the speeches," Gopal said at a press conference here on Wednesday.
He said the SC/ST students used to get a scholarship of Rs1 lakh, which has been reduced to Rs15,000. "There are many meritorious students who had planned for professional courses. Now, they will have to rethink about their plans for higher studies. While other neighbouring states are increasing the scholarship amount, the Bihar policymakers have an unfavourable approach," he said.
Another ABVP member Gaurav Ranjan said the hostels that have been constructed for SC/ST students are in a dilapidated condition. The hostels have bare minimum facilities. In this digital age, hardly any hostel has any computer or the internet facility. "The students who don't have computer and internet facilities will miss the exam notifications or the results of competitive exams, which are mostly published online," said Ranjan.
He also claimed that the hostels for the SC/ST students lack television and cable connections. Nor do they have proper drinking water facilities. "The washrooms remain dirty and unhygienic," he added.