Covid-19 a hurdle in MahaJyoti’s way

Nagpur: The delay in setting up Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Research and Training Institute (MahaJyoti), headquarters of which was shifted from Pune to Nagpur earlier this year, has left several OBC students in the lurch.
Modelled on the lines of Babasaheb Ambedkar Research and Training Institute (BARTI) and Sarathi for SC/ST and Maratha students, respectively, MahaJyoti is meant to provide training platform for OBC students preparing for various competitive exams.
Minister for backward classes Vijay Wadettiwar had shifted the centre to Nagpur and announced to run it temporarily from the Social Justice Bhavan near Deekshabhoomi.
“Though Covid pandemic is posing a hurdle, efforts are on to set up the centre in a month. Managing director has been appointed. Office set-up work would commence in two weeks. We need to open an account and constitute board of directors,” Wadettiwar told TOI.
“Rs50 crore have been sanctioned for MahaJyoti. Had it not been for the pandemic, the centre would have started by now. A lot of formalities are pending in Mantralaya because of lack of staff who are unable to report to work because of Covid restrictions,” said the minister.
Highlighting the need for MahaJyoti, son of a farmer Pushpak Bawane (22), who belongs to NT category and preparing for UPSC, said fees charged by coaching classes is unaffordable for students like him. “BARTI is exclusively for SC/STs, while Sarathi is for Marathas. There is no such exclusive scheme for OBC groups like us. I also want to go Delhi for exam preparations, but cannot afford it. If the government extends support, I would get a fair chance at the UPSC,” said Bawane, who has completed BE electrical.
Manisha Sanap (34), who is preparing for MPSC, aspires to get a top administrative job. “MahaJyoti is under process since 2018, but never expedited. Many students aspire to go to Pune, Mumbai and Delhi for exam preparation as these cities have better coaching facilities. If this centre starts early, it will be huge relief for many like me. If the government starts it this month, OBC students will benefit from it for preparing for MPSC mains,” she said.
Manisha, who has completed MSc, is living in Pune in a rented flat. “My family is paying for my expenses. I haven’t paid the rent for the last four months. OBC is a biggest community which is economically backward and hence government help is needed,” she said.
Student activist Atul Khobragade, who has written to chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on the issue, said government must ensure OBCs are not deprived of the benefits.