Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 2
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India released a total of Rs 19.14 crores under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) of Post Matric Scholarships to the Nagaland Government for the financial year 2017-18 according to official record available on its website.
The Public Financial Management System (PFMS) of the Ministry shows that two separate sanction orders of Rs 6.1 crore and Rs 13 crore were issued over the course of a week between December 13 and December 21, 2017. The first sanction order of Rs 6.1 crore is for release of scholarship money for the year 2016-17 as second installment.
The first installment for the year 2016-17 of Rs.13.44 crores was released in December 28, 2016 according to the Ministry’s record.
For the financial year 2017-18, the first installment of Rs 6.14 crores was released on through a sanction order dated May 2, 2017. The release order of Rs 13 crore on December 21, 2017 was also for 2017-18 financial year.
From the above data, it can be observed that for the financial year, 2016-17 and 2017-18, the Centre has released Rs. 19.54 and Rs. 19.14 respectively and thus covering two financial year.
It may be mentioned here that the All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) and the Eastern Nagaland College Students’ Union (ENCSU) have both been spearheading protests for much of the later part of 2017 demanding that the state government release the full amount of scholarships.
Given the public outcry, the State government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by IGP (INT) to probe into the alleged misuse of scholarship funds.
On December 18, 2017, ANCSU President Katho P. Awomi briefing the protesting students gathered at PHR junction in Kohima after having met Chief Minister TR Zeliang earlier in the day informed of the assurance from the CM that the remaining scholarship amount will be released by December 19, 2017.
Earlier on December 7, 2017, Nagaland Chief Secretary Pankaj Kumar in presence of Director of Higher Education, Finance Commissioner, Home Commissioner, Chairman of SIT and the students organization spearheading the protests also assured to disburse the scholarship in full amount on or before December 25, 2017.
More than a month later, the assurances from the two highest state government officials remain unfulfilled with many students yet to receive the due scholarship.
Talking to The Morung Express, ENCSU President Longre Chang on Friday stated that the union was “still patiently waiting” for the department to release the scholarship.
He, however, informed that the union would be holding consultations with Eastern Organisations involving the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO), Eastern Nagaland Students’ Federation (ENSF), Eastern Nagaland Women Organisation (ENWO) etc. to discuss further course of action.
The Nagaland Government officials could not be contacted for verification despite repeated attempts.
