Kohima Bureau
Kohima, Nov. 30 (EMN): Breaking its silence over the speculations, allegations and misconception against partial disbursement of scholarship for the 2016-17, officials of the All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) stated that there are ‘some facts which cannot be overlooked.’
Addressing media person at a press conference in its office this evening, Katho P. Awomi, ANCSU president said it has been sincerely pursuing this issue to deliver justice and equality to all the students of the state.
Shedding light to the delay in the payment of post-matric scholarships, Awomi said the state government has projected the required amount of INR 50,69,21,139 for 44,084 students who were selected after proper scrutiny.
Accordingly, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India has given an order for sanctioning of the first scholarship instalment for the year 2016-17 amounting to INR 13,44,000 on December 28, 2016.
Subsequently, the Finance Department has given the placement of fund on May 24, 2017 and 'drawal authority' on September 21, 2017 amounting to INR 13,44,00,000 of the central government share. However, the state government could deposit its 10% share INR 1,49,33,000 on October 9, 2017.
However, following a letter written by a so-called organisation, Brighter Tomorrow, to the Ministry alleging the government of misappropriation of scholarship funds, Awomi said the Ministry was adamant to release the second and the final instalment amounting to INR 37,25,21,139 .
The Ministry was said to have further directed the scheme implementing department i.e. Directorate of Higher Education dated July 4, 2017 to utilise the adhoc grant of the first instalment and to submit the utilisation certificate.
In this regard, ANCSU has written to the Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs dated August 23 (a copy of which was made available to media person) stating its concern and that it ‘shall not accept any partial payment of scholarship to any students’ and that ‘all payments be made to all the beneficiaries at one go.’
The department has also written to the Ministry thrice dated June 8, 2017; August 1, 2017 and September 19, 2017 to the Ministry citing its inability to furnish the Utilisation Certificate stating ‘the said amount could hardly cover 27% of the total amount projected for the financial year 2016-17.’
In its letter, the department has appealed to the Ministry to consider for approval and release the pending second and final instalment while stating that ‘attempts have been made to exercise part/partial payment in the past but have failed to do so since the student community is strongly against such type of partial payment and insist on one time full payment.’
With the Ministry adamant to release the second instalment and the students demanding their scholarship, the Governor, P.B. Acharya has summoned for a joint meeting of ANCSU and department on September 18 wherein, he has directed the department to pay the first instalment as per the directive given by the funding agency which was agreed upon by ANCSU.
Following the instruction, the department has submitted the utilisation certificate of the first instalment for the year 2016-17 to the Tribal Affairs Ministry on November 8.
In this regard, ANCSU has made it clear that the delay and partial payment of scholarship is neither the negligence of the state government and the department, and reminded against making any speculations and wild allegations without knowing the ‘facts and figures’ of the ground reality.
While stating its resentment on the silence of the chief minister and his cabinet, ANCSU has appealed the chief minister to take serious note of the genuine demand of the students and pursue the issue with the ministry with sincerity and commitment.
The union has also demanded that the state government to guarantee payment of scholarship by December 10, failing which it will resort to its own course of action and the chief minister and his cabinet will solely be held responsible for any consequences that might occur.
Taking advantage of the President, Ram Nath Kovind’s visit, who is here to grace the inaugural programme of the 18th Hornbill Festival, ANCSU has written to the president through the governor seeking his immediate intervention to release the second and final instalment of CSS-PMS for ST students of Nagaland for the year 2016-17.
The Eastern Nagaland College Students' Union (ENCSU) on Thursday walked out of the meeting that was said to be convened by the secretary of Higher and Technical Education on the direction of the chief minister.
The union in a press release justified the actions alleging that the department was not able to meet their demands and 'it has only come to light about the manipulation in the system'.
The ENCSU was not in a position to accept the presentation of the department as it alleged it was 'nothing new but just an old same lame excuses that has been published time and again'.
The union a announced that it is 'compelled' to resume the its suspended agitations and that it will continue from Dec. 1 as the government and its department is not able to meet the demands of the union.
