Memo to UGC regarding issues with Ishan Uday Scholarship

August 04, 2021

NEFIS SUBMITS MEMORANDUM TO UGC CHAIRPERSON REGARDING SCAM IN ALLOCATION AND DISBURSEMENT OF ISHAN UDAY SCHOLARSHIP!
NEFIS ALSO ORGANISED ONLINE POSTER CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE ISSUES!!

North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) today submitted a memorandum to the University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairperson regarding the glaring issues related to ‘Ishan Uday’ Scholarship. Ishan Uday Scholarship, it should be known, is aimed at promoting higher education in the North-Eastern Region.

The scholarship especially seeks to promote students belonging to economically weaker sections. It should be noted that the merit list for the scholarship was recently published by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

The database of the merit list contains many inconsistencies and false information. On close examination of the list of beneficiaries, it has been found out that there are several instances of bogus beneficiaries.

The names of many beneficiaries were found to be repeated and their respective colleges were also unknown or not well-recognized. This is clearly indicative of scam and fraud in the selection process for the scholarship programme.

This incident has triggered discontent among the student community in the states of the North-East. NEFIS also urge the UGC to disburse MOBC, SC and ST scholarships which has been pending for last several months. The irregularities in the disbursement of scholarship are creating a lot of problems for the students, particularly those belonging to socio-economically weaker sections.

They are being deprived of the opportunity of availing the scholarship scheme due to the ongoing scam, which is grievously affecting their studies. An online play-card campaign against this injustice has also been launched by the students.

In the memorandum submitted to the UGC Chairperson, it has been demanded that a new list of beneficiaries of the scholarship program should be released, and UGC must ensure quick disbursal of all scholarship amounts which are yet to be released. NEFIS also demands that a high-level enquiry committee should be constituted to look into the issue and punish the authorities responsible for the scam

NEFIS resolves to intensify its struggle in the coming days, if its demands are not met.

Thokchom Yaiphalembi Chanu
Member
North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS)