The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment published a case study highlighting the success of the National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students (NFSC) program through the journey of Dr. Anik Saha, a 33-year-old scholar from the Scheduled Caste community - Sunri (including Saha). Dr. Saha faced severe financial difficulties following his father's demise, which threatened to interrupt his education, requiring him to teach private tuition classes in the evenings to pay academic fees.
The NFSC fellowship provided crucial financial support from 2018 to 2022, enabling him to complete both his M.Phil. and Ph.D. studies. The assistance covered educational and admission fees, fieldwork expenses, thesis printing costs, and thesis submission charges at rates equivalent to those applicable to NET-JRF fellows. This support reduced his financial burden and allowed him to focus exclusively on his research.
Dr. Saha successfully completed his Ph.D. through sustained support, perseverance, and hard work. He currently works as a Research Assistant on an Indian Council of Social Science Research project at Kazi Nazrul University in Asansol, Paschim Bardhaman, West Bengal. The case study demonstrates how targeted fellowship assistance can help scholars from disadvantaged communities overcome economic barriers, fulfill academic aspirations, and contribute to higher education and research.