MUST SHARE.... MINORITY STUDENTS DEPRIVED OF POST-MATRIC SCHOLARSHIPS IN ASSAM Published on "The Sentinel"sentinelassam/cachar/story.php?sec=2&subsec=12&id=162740&dtP=2013-06-21&ppr=1#162740 Home » Cachar News » Story Where do scholarship funds in Assam go? From our Special Correspondent SILCHAR, June 20: Though the Prime Minister’s 15 point programme for the welfare of minorities promises scholarships among others for education, it has been alleged by a group of minority students of the premiere Guru Charan College of this town that it remains a distant dream for them. The minorities comprise Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis. The students of these communities have been deprived of scholarships for the last few years despite adequate funds allotted by the Ministry of Minority Affairs. The student group of the college, Zahid Islam Barbhuiya of BCom 5th semester (Hons), allege scholarships are sanctioned annually by the Union Government. But, quite mysteriously, the State government of Assam has been not awarding scholarships to the target students. Minorities in other States are regularly receiving the benefits. It is also surprising, the group of students say, no minority organization has raised the issue so far. According to the press release issued by the group, the Ministry of Minority Affairs allotted Rs 4.86 crore for post–matric scholarship during 2008–09. During 2009–10, the fund was raised to Rs 8.32 crore. From 2010–11 to 2011–12, the sanctioned amount was Rs 5.60 crore and Rs 4.46 crore. While scholarships were distributed during 2008 to 2010, there was no award of the same from 2010 to 2012. For the post matric scholarship of 2011–12, no college of Barak Valley was listed for it, quite unbelievable, the group pointed out. The group of students have taken umbrage at the Assam Minorities Development Board for their lackadaisical attitude towards the scholarship issue, creating the impression that the funds so allotted have been siphoned off by those at the helm of affairs. The official website of the Ministry of Minority Affairs Department shows, they claim, other states have been implementing the 15 point programme and the scholarships are being regularly awarded to the minority students. Assam is an exception where the State government prefers to hoodwink the minority students with false assurances. Will the Tarun Gogoi Government come forward with an explanation, they ask? TOP
Posted on: Fri, 21 Jun 2013 04:51:47 +0000
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