Protesting the recent orders of the Central government which stipulates that scholarship should be given to those SC/ST students who secure 60 per cent in their studies, SFI members of the Chikkaballapur unit  are staging a 24 hour dharna at Sub-Divisional office in Chikkaballapur from Tuesday.

SFI members alleged that most of the students belonging to SC/ST communities and Backward castes are studying at government schools and colleges where are there are no basic amenities. Under such circumstances expecting the students to get 60 per cent is atrocious and will hinder the education among SC/ST and backward caste students, they alleged.

At one side efforts are being made to bring back the drop outs to the schools and is bearing success in its effort. But this decision of the Central government to give scholarships to only those who get 60 per cent will send back even those students who are fairing reasonable in their studies at the schools, they added.

Terming it as devastating the protesting members questioned the governments ability to gauge the effects. The protesters demanded that every student who applies for the scholarships should be given scholarships and 30 per cent of the seats should be reserved for the SC/ST and other backward castes student even in private institutions.

The protest is being lead by district unit secretary C S Srinath, vice-president S Lakshman Reddy, leaders Ramakrishna, Manjunath, Amaresh, Madhulatha, Satish and others.