August 25, 2025

Off to the races

But jump through a million hoops first to access your basic rights.

by Rajika Seth, Pooja Rathi

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2 min read

An illustration of three schoolchildren in uniforms crouched at a starting line on a running track labeled “1, 2, 3.” A man in traditional attire stands beside them, holding a green flag to signal the start. A large sign behind the children reads “Scholarship race.” The image represents competition among students for scholarships._Nonprofit humour — Picture courtesy: Sugam Thakur

An illustration of a schoolgirl in uniform running on a track and jumping over hurdles. The hurdles are labeled “Lack of information” and “Difficult application process,” symbolizing the challenges students face in accessing scholarships._Nonprofit humour — Picture courtesy: Sugam Thakur

An illustration of a schoolgirl in uniform running on a track and jumping over a hurdle labeled “Bias towards STEM subjects.” Behind her are other hurdles labeled “Identity-based barriers” and “Economic constraints,” symbolizing the challenges students face in accessing scholarships._Nonprofit humour — Picture courtesy: Sugam Thakur

An illustration showing a young girl in a school uniform standing tired at the start of a running track, facing a series of hurdles labeled with challenges: "Strict eligibility criteria," "Preferential treatment based on language," "Limited digital access," and "Insufficient funding." The hurdles symbolize barriers to opportunities._Nonprofit humour — Picture courtesy: Sugam Thakur

Tags: Nonprofit Humour

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Rajika Seth

Rajika Seth is the head of IDR Hindi, where she is responsible for strategy, editorial direction, and growth. She is a development sector professional with more than 15 years of experience working across the social sector. Rajika has also worked with Accountability Initiative, Centre for Policy Research, Teach for India, the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, and CREA in the past. She has a BA in English Literature from Delhi University and an MA in Development Studies from IDS, University of Sussex.

Pooja Rathi

Pooja Rathi is an editorial analyst at IDR Hindi. She previously worked with Feminism In India as an assistant editor, where she covered gender, environment, and social justice issues. Pooja has been awarded the UN Laadli Media Award and is a Laadli Media Fellow 2024. She is also an ex-fellow of the Khabar Lahariya Rural Media Fellowship and the Behavioral Journalism Fellowship at the Atlas for Behavior Change in Development. Pooja holds a master’s degree in journalism.

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