ANNOUNCEMENTS
The cost of medical education in India is expensive. While the tuition fee excluding any other living expenses ranges from Rs. 10, 000 – Rs. 40, 000 annually, it can spike threefold, typically ranging around Rs 2, 00, 000 (Rahman, Bhat, Ozair, Detchou and Ahluwalia, 2024) . It appears to be challenging for student belonging from traditionally socially and economically weaker sections of society, particularly Schedule Caste (SCs). This puts additional burden on marginalized communities such as Schedule Castes. SCs have also accounted a lower number in the total student enrolment in higher education (AISHE, 2024). Secondary literature at the intersection of medical education, contribution of SCs and accessibility to higher education for SCs revealed to be same. This study is an attempt to understand how the ONGC Meritorious scholarship influences the educational experience of Schedule caste beneficiary students from the states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
The results reveal that access to learning resources play major role shaping their educational experience. The study highlights digital divide as main issue exacerbating socio – economic disparities. Caste reflects as ‘subtle manifestation’, embedded in the complex tapestry of power relations and agency amongst the beneficiary students and the social environment they are part of family and college. The study aligns with limited literature on access to digital learning resources, academic performance in medical education and caste identity.
It opens platform of further research in to this intersection of fields, with possibility of covering interventions within the context of their market competition and skill development of marginalized communities.
Keywords: ONGC Meritorious scholarship, accessibility, medical education, Schedule Caste, education experience.
