The Shahu Maharaj Research, Training and Human Development Institute (Sarathi), a state-run body intended to support higher education for Maratha students abroad, is facing criticism for introducing what student activists describe as “excessive and unjust” documentation requirements in its 2025 foreign scholarship scheme.
According to student activist Kuldeep Ambekar, president of Student Helping Hands, Sarathi has now asked students to submit land ownership records as part of their scholarship application—a move he says amounts to harassment.
“Sarathi has crossed all limits… Now all that’s left is to make students submit their land records,” said Ambekar. He alleged that under the guise of scrutiny and regulation, the institute is imposing unreasonable procedural barriers that are discouraging and delaying applicants.
As per documents accessed by The Free Press Journal, students are also required to submit three separate legal declarations—an undertaking, a bond, and an affidavit—each on a Rs500 non-judicial stamp paper notarised by a public notary. These requirements apply even at the application stage, pushing upfront costs into the thousands. In addition, the list of mandatory submissions runs to 24 items, including caste validity, domicile, income certificates, and GRE/TOEFL or IELTS score proofs, many of which must be certified or notarised.
Ambekar said the scholarship has become a bureaucratic maze rather than a support system. “This is nothing short of a game of procrastination. Sarathi is continuously adding hurdles through a newly introduced ‘rulebook’ that has made the process unnecessarily complex and time-consuming,” he said.
While the 2025 application cycle raises fresh concerns, students selected under last year’s cycle are still waiting for financial support. Ambekar revealed that 75 students chosen for the scholarship in 2024 have not received a single rupee. “Some of them are managing expenses through education loans, while others are working part-time jobs abroad just to afford meals. Yet, Sarathi’s only response is—‘there is no budget’,” he said.
In one such case, a student admitted to the University of Leeds for a one-year MSc in Human Resources and Organisations submitted a detailed cost breakdown, showing a total of £29,250 (approx. Rs31.46 lakh) for tuition, living costs, travel, and insurance. Despite fulfilling all paperwork, there has been no clarity on funding.
Ambekar reiterated that the scholarship is a right, not a favour. “The scheme is loudly publicised, but on the ground, students are being left to fend for themselves. This policy must stop,” he said, demanding that Sarathi simplify the process and release funds without further delay.
