The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has highlighted the impact of the National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students (NFSC) Scheme through the case of Manika Mandal, a 33-year-old scholar from West Bengal who completed her doctoral degree despite severe financial constraints. Her achievement shows how targeted fellowship support can help students from economically struggling families pursue advanced research and higher education.
The Support and the Achievement
Manika Mandal hails from South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal. Her family faced considerable financial instability, which made it difficult for her to meet the costs of doctoral research and higher studies. Educational resources were limited, and the expenses linked to her Ph.D. work created additional strain on her household.
Beginning in April 2017, Manika received fellowship assistance under the NFSC Scheme. The total support she received amounted to approximately Rs. 20 lakh during her doctoral studies. This fellowship covered education and research-related costs, removing much of the financial burden that had previously threatened to halt her academic progress.
With this assistance, Manika was able to maintain focus on her research work and complete her Ph.D. successfully. Her story demonstrates how the scheme works to support Scheduled Caste scholars in overcoming barriers created by economic hardship.
What this means for you
If you belong to a Scheduled Caste category and come from a financially weak background, the NFSC Scheme can provide the financial support needed to pursue postgraduate and doctoral studies without the constant pressure of meeting expenses from family resources. The scheme recognises that talented scholars often cannot continue advanced research simply because their families lack the means to support such education. Manika’s success suggests that fellowship assistance through such government schemes can be the difference between completing a doctoral degree and having to abandon higher education altogether.