Mumbai University Disburses ₹10.61 Crore Aid Between 2020 And 2024 To Uplift Underprivileged Students

Mumbai: In a significant effort to uplift underprivileged students, the University of Mumbai (MU) has disbursed financial assistance amounting to Rs 10.61 crore over the past five academic years.

The support has been extended to students from economically weaker sections, as well as those belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Denotified Tribes (DT), and Nomadic Tribes (NT), studying in affiliated colleges and university departments.

The funding was distributed through four welfare schemes managed by MU’s Department of Students’ Development, which aim to address the academic and financial challenges faced by marginalised students.

Out of Rs 2.74 crore disbursed in 2024-25, a major portion of the funds—Rs 1.06 crore—was granted under the university’s Book Bank Scheme, benefitting over 27,500 students. An additional Rs 6.38 lakh supported economically backward students. ST students in affiliated colleges received Rs1.01 crore, while Rs60 lakh was distributed to SC, ST, DT, and NT students enrolled in university departments.

The university introduced a dedicated online platform to streamline the application and disbursement process, allowing affiliated institutions to submit student requests directly.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Ravindra Kulkarni described the initiative as a reflection of the university’s commitment to educational equity. “This initiative by the University of Mumbai to support needy, economically weaker, and underprivileged students is truly commendable. To ensure that more students benefit each year, substantial budgetary allocations are made for these schemes. The university has always extended a helping hand to its students and remains committed to implementing various welfare schemes for their betterment,” he said.

The yearly financial aid figures have seen a steady rise over the past five academic years. In 2020–21, MU disbursed Rs 1.57 crore, followed by Rs 1.77 crore in 2021–22. This increased to Rs 2.09 crore in 2022–23 and Rs 2.42 crore in 2023–24. The most substantial allocation came in 2024–25, with Rs2.74 crore disbursed — marking the highest amount granted in a single academic year to date.