The meritorious students, whichever social or economic strata of society they may belong to, have to receive the incentive to become trained or qualified to be able to contribute in the best interest of the country. However, the sad fact remains that finance plays a major role when it comes to undertaking further education, particularly the technical ones. This has students from the disadvantaged communities and those from the backward regions in a fix. Despite the encouraging SLC scores, many fail to realise their dreams of furthering their education in the field desired. This has been the reason why the government from long has been awarding scholarships to deserving students with quota reserved for students who come from the Dalit, backward and other such communities and remote regions. The criteria is fixed but the crux of the matter is as to what percentage of students coming from the specified communities are entitled to scholarships that the government has the right to grant. The granting of scholarships has been arrived through certain studies though the basis of which may be seen in different light by different people like the community concerned or the political parties each of which has its own clarion call to present itself as the champion of the causes of those whose who have suffered discrimination and exploitation over hundred of years.

In support of the students from the target communities, the government has a certain percentage of seats reserved in educational institutions, to be awarded through a supposedly stringent process. The problem surfacing at the moment is the demand for increasing the scholarship quota from the nine per cent proposed by the Scholarship (third amendment) Bill 2065 to the original 15 per cent. In fact, the earlier higher scholarship percentage stood at 15 per cent but that included the Madheshi students as well. The proposed lower per cent scholarships in the said Bill does not include those for whom there is a separate scholarship provision. It is for the legislative parliament to decide on the scholarship percentage through extensive discussions as it a sensitive issue. However, the fact remains that the actual quota reserved for the students of the underprivileged communities and backward regions has to reflect the welfare-oriented task of the government. But, going too high on the reservation ground has to take various considerations into account.

The important point to remember is that scholarships are meant for recognising the students with academic excellence but in a country where there is a significant number of them belonging to the disadvantaged communities or the backward regions, the criteria for their selection has to be very fair without any foul play like political meddling. The question of increasing or maintaining the number of scholarships has to be based on various factors instead of the state giving in to pressure tactics. Scholarships will remain for students from the target communities and regions. But, fair selection of deserving students from the target communities and regions is necessary so that the genuine ones are not deprived of the higher studies opportunities that the state has in place through the granting of the scholarships.