'Probe Pre-Matric scholarship issue'
Source: The Sangai Express / S Singlianmang Guite

Lamka, July 23 2014: The Manipur Tribal Students' Association, Mumbai has petitioned the Chief Secretary who is also the State Vigilance Commissioner to launch a vigilance inquiry into the delay in implementation of pre-matric scholarship scheme for ST students and expose where the Rs 8.29 crores released for the purpose in 2012-13 has landed.

The student body in its petition to the VC said the scholarship for ST students studying in classes IX an X though launched way back in 2012 was kept in cold storage by the State Tribal Affairs and Hills Department despite the information being made available to the State in September 2012 .

It went on to alleged that following the request made by GoM, Manipur Scholarship Board vide its letter No 12/4/2012-TA&H (pre-MS) dated 12/01/2014 an amount of Rs 8,29,70,200 was sanctioned to the State Government towards payment of the Central Government scheme for the year 2012-13 with sanction order bearing No 20015/19/2012-Education dated 12th February, 2014 .

The anticipated expenditures as shown in the order was meant for 27,112 students with 12,700 hostellers and 14,412 day scholars at the tune of Rs.4,150 for the former and Rs.2,100 for the later, stated the MTSA, Mumbai adding no Pre-matric scholarship forms however were issued by the state TA&H for year 2012-13 nor for 2013-14.The MTSA, Mumbai therefore demanded a through probe on how much of the sanctioned money have been utilised by setting time-frame enquiry and find out who are the 27,113 students.

And should there be any utilization the concerned Department should be asked to explain how they select the candidates and made the list of beneficiaries available on their official website.

They also urged the VC to probe the administrative lapses on why the scheme which is 100 percent funded by the central government was withheld for so many years and to see if the department which are meant to work for the welfare of the Tribal people are becoming a hurdle instead.

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