“Ensure scholarship to Dalit scholar”

K. Saravanan was selected by the School of Chemistry, University of Manchester, for Ph.D. research

Communist Party of India (Marxist) Rajya Sabha MP, T.K. Rengarajan, has written to the Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to intervene and remove the obstacles for the Dalit student K. Saravanan who has made it to a premier educational institution in the United Kingdom, but was denied scholarship.

The MP in his letter addressed to the CM has stated that the research scholar has been denied scholarship after being awarded one by the Adi Dravidar Welfare (ADW) Department.

K. Saravanan was selected by the School of Chemistry, University of Manchester, for Ph.D. research with a fellowship awarded by the department under a scholarship scheme for SC students for studying in universities abroad. He was selected for the scholarship in 2009 (November 19, 2009). An endorsement letter issued by ADW Commissioner said that, Mr. Saravanan was provisionally selected for the overseas fellowship scheme.

Mr. Sivasankaran had sent a letter to the Head, School of Chemistry, University of Manchester, that the Government of Tamil Nadu would cover tuition fees, maintenance allowance, and contingency allowance of Mr. Saravanan.

The ADW Department, in a letter, had advised him to proceed with his visa formalities and asked him to join the course, making financial arrangements on his own, as it might take some time to get the administrative approval.

The CPI (M) MP in his letter has said that, Tamil Nadu government after writing a letter to the University that it would take care of the expenses and later withdrawing it stating lack of funds would put the credibility of the government at stake.