The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment published a case study highlighting the impact of the National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste (NFSC) Scheme through the journey of Dr. Pratibha Rani from Faridabad, Haryana. The 35-year-old received comprehensive financial support under the scheme starting September 2019, which included Fellowship, House Rent Allowance (HRA), and Contingency support totaling approximately ₹18 lakh. This assistance enabled her to pursue her Ph.D. while overcoming significant financial barriers that previously made higher education seem like a "distant dream" due to her family's retired status, limited community awareness of educational support schemes, and peer pressure against girls' education.
Before receiving the fellowship, Dr. Rani faced substantial financial challenges and noted limited interest in girls' higher education within her Scheduled Caste community. The NFSC support provided financial stability that strengthened her family's position and allowed her to focus exclusively on academic goals. Parallel to her studies, she contributed to educating underprivileged children for approximately 12 years. Following her academic achievement, she secured a professional position at CSIR-National Physical Laboratory in New Delhi, where she received ₹43,000 per month for one year, further improving her financial circumstances and professional exposure.
Her successful journey from financial constraints to achieving her Ph.D. and professional recognition has served as motivation for other girls in her community to pursue higher education and academic growth. The case study demonstrates how targeted fellowship support can help talented students from disadvantaged communities overcome financial barriers and realize their academic aspirations.