EMN
DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 3
The Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) has appealed to the chief minister of Nagaland and minister in-charge of finance to immediately release of post-matric scholarships for the academic year 2013-2014. The ENSF issued a press release stating the appeal on Wednesday.
The ENSF stated that in 2013, the federation had initiated the ‘ENSF Education Initiative’ (EEI) where 158 students from Nagaland were sent to pursue higher degree and professional courses under the Ministry of Minority Affairs. “The federation, as a part for sensitization campaign, had assisted the students in applying for their scholarship. Though the ministry had already sent the list of selected students for availing scholarship along with their scholarship to the state, the state government is still holding the money which is causing untold trauma to the students in peacefully pursuing their studies,” the ENSF stated.
“Surprisingly, Nagaland is the lone state in the entire northeast that has not released the scholarship till date. EEI had been initiated keeping in mind that the poor students from Nagaland could pursue and complete their studies within the purview of the scholarship alone,” the organization stated.
The federation had negotiated with institutions “in slicing off” overall institution fees in tally with the amount that is being provided through scholarship, the press release stated. “The reservation of seats is being done in within the management quota of the concern state where the institution is located. However, on account of not releasing the scholarship by the state government, both the institution and the students in particular is being tortured immensely.”
The main objective of the scholarship is to provide financial assistance to the poor and meritorious students belonging to minority communities to enable them to pursue professional and technical courses, the ENSF stated.
“It aims in fulfilling their dreams and vision and to acquire good education at par with the general and advance community in India. Nagaland being a Christian state, all meritorious Naga students can avail such opportunity.” The government is requested to pursue the matter on priority.
