'Still Waiting For My Scholarship Amount, How Do I Pay For College Fee at DTU?'

I joined DTU in November 2021. I applied for a scholarship, this year in Jan, two months after joining the college.

Sharad Gautam has not received his scholarship in five months.

(Illustration: Deeksha Malhota/The Quint)

I'm a second-year engineering student at Delhi Technological University (DTU) and I have been waiting for my scholarship money from the university that was approved five months ago.

I'm a resident of Northeast Delhi, and I joined DTU in November 2021. I come from a lower middle-class family, my father works at a private company and is the family's sole earner.

I was filled with so much joy when I got admission to one of the top universities, but I was still hesitant to join the college because of its extremely high fee. But I learned about the college scholarships and knew I was eligible for it. I joined the college with the hope of getting a scholarship.

I applied for a scholarship, this year in January, two months after joining college, I received the approval in May, this year, but only on paper.

My family and I are financially and mentally frustrated now because even after the scholarship approval we're forced to pay the fee.

My college fee is Rs 2.5 lakh per annum and keeps increasing yearly. Most of the students here have taken loans to pay their fees. For four years, the fee is around Rs 10 lakh and my family just cannot afford it.

Approval of scholarship.

(Image courtesy: Sharad Gautam)

'Took Loans To Pay The Fee'

In my first year of college, my father took a personal loan of Rs 5 lakh to pay my college fees. There is a high rate of interest that comes with the loan but this was the only option we had, so we went ahead with it.

By my second year of college, I was expecting to receive my scholarship money but it did not come through. This time, we had to borrow money from our relatives to pay my college fee.

This scholarship issue has stressed me out completely. There is so much mental and financial pressure, I can't see my family go through so much.

For a person like me, who can barely afford the metro fare every day, asking them to pay so much fees is unethical. I take the DTC bus every day, and travel 30 km to reach college. The college is well aware of my financial condition, and I have submitted every document that they asked for. Why is there a delay then?

'No Response From Authorities' 

The situation I'm currently in is extremely bad, I have to think 10 times before spending on travel or food.

The constant thought of how I am going to pay my next semester's fee is in my head all the time.

My family is in huge debt. I have approached the scholarship department more than five to six times, and they always keep ignoring my question. There is no response, I have ever received from them.

Screenshot of RTI filed by Sharad Gautam.

(Image courtesy: Sharad Gautam)

The only thing, I get to hear from them is either the payment was failed or cancelled for some reason.

Once, I was told that there was some issue with my account, I gave the details again and again, and now it's the same response I always get which is that everything is under process.

I mailed various people for this, and I even filed an RTI, from which, I never really got a response. I only got a phone number that has never been answered.

The last year has been the most financially and mentally taxing year for my family. The scholarship approval was a silver lining for me, please don't take that away as my family and I just can't afford to pay so much fee.

The Quint has reached out to Delhi Technological University (DTU). Their response is awaited. Story would be updated once a response is received.

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