By Sandeep Kamble, Samavesh Fellow
Introduction
Every year, thousands of government scholarships meant for marginalized students remain unclaimed—not because of disinterest or ineligibility, but due to a systemic gap in documentation and awareness. As a first-generation learner from a rural part of Parbhani district in Maharashtra, I experienced this firsthand. My own education was nearly derailed due to a missing caste certificate. Years later, as a Samavesh Fellow, I now work to ensure that no student in my community is left behind for the same reason.
My Journey
My family, like many others in Parbhani, depended on seasonal migration and informal labor. Despite financial hardship, I pursued my education with determination, eventually migrating to Pune to complete my Master’s in Social Work. The move was transformative—but it also exposed the urban-rural divide in access to public services, especially documentation required for scholarships.
What I Do as a Samavesh Fellow
At Samavesh, I work as a Civic Access Fellow in Parbhani district. My primary role is to support students from low-income and marginalized communities in accessing government scholarships by:
- Helping them secure Aadhaar, caste, and income certificates
- Assisting with online applications for scholarships
- Conducting documentation and awareness camps in schools
- Liaising with tehsil and social welfare offices to track application status
- Providing 1:1 mentorship for students navigating college entrance exams
Key Numbers (2023–24):
- Students supported with documentation: 116
- Scholarship applications submitted: 219
- Village-level documentation camps: 20
- Youth trained through capacity building workshops: 150+
These numbers are not just statistics—they represent students who are now enrolled, funded, and dreaming bigger.
What I’ve Learned
Many students are eligible for ₹10,000–₹75,000 annually under various schemes. But without a caste certificate or the know-how to navigate digital portals, they are locked out. Most families I work with are unaware that such scholarships even exist. The challenge is compounded by outdated school records, mismatched names, and lack of digital access.
Through Samavesh, I’ve learned to meet families where they are—not just geographically, but emotionally. Earning their trust is as important as filling a form.
The Bigger Picture
Unlocking scholarships is about more than money. It’s about restoring belief in the public system. When a girl receives a Post-Matric Scholarship and stays in school, her entire family’s outlook shifts. When a tribal youth gets hostel admission, it’s a generational breakthrough.
What’s Next
I plan to expand my work by:
- Creating multilingual step-by-step guides for rural students
- Training youth volunteers as Scholarship Ambassadors in schools
for more inclusive admission support - Advocating for reforms in document submission policies at the block level
Why Samavesh Matters
The Samavesh Fellowship gave me a mission. I have seen firsthand how systemic gaps in documentation denied access to opportunity. Through the Fellowship, I found a structure to transform my lived experience into systemic change. Samavesh provided me with training, tools, and mentorship needed to walk with students from bastis to schools, from rejection letters to scholarship approvals. Scholarships are not handouts—they are constitutional rights. But without access, rights remain on paper. Through Samavesh, I’m helping students move from invisibility to opportunity—one document, one application, one dream at a time.
“I wasn’t just helping others get documents—I was restoring dignity, visibility, and belief. Samavesh turned my personal journey into a shared path for justice.”
About The Author:
Sandeep Kamble is a first-generation learner from Parbhani district and holds a Master’s in Social Work (MSW) from Nanded. He currently works as a Samavesh Civic Access Fellow and has led documentation and scholarship access initiatives across rural and urban peripheries of Maharashtra. Sandeep has a deep commitment to supporting children from low-income and marginalized communities through rights-based interventions in education.
