ST students of Manipur 'denied' entry in own college in Punjab
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 21 2018:
Manipur Scheduled Tribe students in Punjab were on Friday allegedly denied entry in the college they are studying since the last 3 years.
The Vidya Jyoti College in Punjab 'shut' the main doors of the college and 'did not allowed' the tribal students to appear in the examination today, alleged the Manipur Students' Union Punjab in a statement today.
These students took admission, under Post Matric Scholarship (PMS) scheme funded by Central Govt of India, during 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 and are pursuing various graduate and postgraduate level courses in the Vidya Jyoti College in Punjab, said the union in its statement issued by president CT Thotshem.
CT Thotshem claimed that there are more than 100 students from Manipur studying in the college whose futures are now at stake due to the non-payment of scholarship amount by the State Government.
"Earlier, the college gave us several notices to submit the college fees but now they want us to clear the dues else we won't be allowed to appear in the exams," Thotshem said.
He added that the college management/authority had sent several request letters and reminders to the Director of Department of Tribal Hills & Affairs, Govt of Manipur but nothing has been done so far.
"We have even approached the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes in Delhi in the month of October and submitted a student representation but haven't got any response from the Director so far," Thotshem said.
"The Central Government started these kinds of scheme for the upliftment of the tribal students who want to pursue higher education at recognized institutions within India.
But these tribal students from Manipur are struggling to get what they are entitled to.
This is a very crucial time for the students as examinations are going on.
But instead of focusing on their studies, they are busy drafting letters and knocking Government doors with hope to get their scholarships and subsequently an entry to the examination hall," Thotshem said.
The union is approaching the CM of measures, he said.