Ahmedabad:
Tahir Khan spent many school days dreaming of becoming an engineer. At 16, those dreams have crumbled. He dropped out of school two years ago because his father could no longer afford the fee of Rs 200 a month. Tahir was a good student who scored over 70% in his subjects.
He now works at a garage in Ahmedabad, where he earns Rs 80 a day. He tries not to think too much about the future. "I was keen on completing my studies... but my financial condition forced me out of school."
It was to keep students like Tahir in school that the Union government set aside 10 crores in 2009 for minority students in Gujarat. Students who have not completed Class 10 and whose parents earn less than a lakh ever year are eligible for scholarships of Rs 800 to Rs 1500 a month. A total of 52,000 students could qualify.
But Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has informed the Gujarat Assembly that it has refused the money. "The scheme is to bring equity, as per the recommendation of the Sachar Commission," says Human Resources Development Minister Kapil Sibal. "But as far as the Gujarat Chief Minister is concerned, we all know his attitude towards minorities."
Sources say Mr Modi sees the Centre's initiative as an attempt to woo minority voters in Gujarat. On record, however, the government said that it would instead use a fund of its own for two crores that it created last year.
"In Gujarat, the Muslims are prosperous. Gujaratis have the highest per capita income in the country. The Gujarat Government does not look at them in terms of religion. The government cares about the entire population of Gujarat. For this no certificate is required from Kapil Sibal," says the BJP's spokesperson, Shahnawaz Hussain.
However, activists say that Mr Modi cannot be allowed to spurn the centre's money - after all, its eight crores more than what he is offering. And his own fund has not yet begun helping students.
So Mr Modi has been taken to court over the issue by organizations that work for minority rights.
"Why can't the government publicise its new scheme, and how its money is being spent?" says Father Cedric Prakash, a human rights activist in Ahmedabad.
As politics get prioritised, thousands of students like Tahirare robbed of opportunities that could change their lives.