Kohima, July 20 (MExN): The All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) on Monday served a three-day ultimatum to the state Department of Higher Education to initiate the release of pending Post-Matric Scholarship (PMS-ST) for the academic year 2025-26 to all eligible beneficiaries, warning of democratic agitation if the demand is not met.
In a letter to the Ex-Officio Director of Higher Education, the union expressed “strongest displeasure” over the continued delay in scholarship disbursement, which it said has caused “immense hardship” to thousands of deserving students across the state.
The ANCSU also condemned the department for allegedly misleading both the union officials and the student community with repeated assurances that the scholarship would be released from July 18, 2026, assurances that the union claimed failed to materialise. “This irresponsible conduct has severely eroded the confidence of students in the department and reflects a lack of accountability towards their welfare,” ANCSU President Kivika Yeptho and General Secretary Sotilo Tep said in letter.
The ANCSU further demanded that the Higher Education Minister intervene urgently to uphold his responsibility and avoid forcing students into an “avoidable course of democratic protest.”
“Failure to comply within the stipulated period will leave the union with no alternative but to launch democratic mass agitation to safeguard the legitimate rights and welfare of the student fraternity,” the union stated, adding that the department shall be held “solely responsible” for any consequences arising from its continued inaction.
Meanwhile, the union appealed to all students to refrain from participating in any agitation and remain calm, stating it would initiate protest if the concerned department fails to initiate the payment within the three-day deadline.
