BANGALORE: What's the scholarship the government pays to thousands of Sanskrit students studying in 235 colleges and patashalas in Karnataka? Rs 4 a month! For over two decades, this is the sum the department of public instruction has been awarding a month to every student studying Prathama in Shastra and Veda sections; the highest scholarship amount paid is a mere Rs 20 a month to Vidwath Uttama scholars in government and aided Sanskrit colleges and pathashalas.
According to the March 1987 order, the government pays Rs 4 to students in Prathama (three-year basic course), Rs 6 for Kavya (intermediate course of two years) and Rs 10 for those studying Sahitya (three-year advanced course). Vidwath Madhyama and Uttama scholars (equivalent to BA and MA respectively) get Rs 15 and Rs 20 every month.
The scheme was introduced to encourage students to study Sanskrit, one of the first languages to be accorded classical language status.
Under the scheme, students get scholarship for 10 months a year. There are 26,000 students taking Prathama and over 8,000 are students Kayva.
“Though conventional government school children are given free uniforms, textbooks, mid-day meals, exam fee waivers and even bicycles, those in Sanskrit colleges and pathashalas do not get any benefits. The argument is that these students are given scholarships.What they pay is pittance.What can a student buy with Rs 4 in a month?” asked an angry head master of a Sanskrit Pathashala.
Upset by the amount, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Vishweshwara Hedge Kageri has asked the commissioner of public instruction to revise the scholarship. “Paying such a low amount is an insult to the language.When I heard about this, I was ashamed,” the Minister said.
The government is planning a hike in the fee — from Rs 4 to Rs 100 a month. Vidhwath Uttama scholars will get Rs 250 a month —up from Rs 20.
While all the 700-odd Vidhwath scholars will be eligible for the scheme, only 50 per cent of the Prathama students can avail of the benefits, as per the quota fixed by the department. Sixty per cent of Kavya students and 70 per cent of Sahitya students will get Rs 1,250 and Rs 1,750 a year respectively.