Press Statement
The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:
The reported decision of the government to impose conditions of 60 per cent marks as the criteria for eligibility for Scheduled Caste and Tribe students to get post-matric scholarships to professional institutions is against the norms of social justice. The Finance Ministry and the Planning Commission who are instrumental in pushing for this decision are trying to impose their flawed understanding to cut subsidies, in this instance at the cost of dalit and tribal students. The percentage of students of oppressed sections in professional institutions is already dismally low and such a decision will lead to further marginalisation. The CPI(M) calls on the government to withdraw the decision. At the same time, it urges the government to bring forward appropriate central legislation to bring private institutions under social control in some key areas as fees and admissions.