DIMAPUR, AUGUST 9 (MExN): The Directorate of Higher Education, Nagaland today issued a clarification on the issue of full fee reimbursement for PMS-ST (Post Matric Scholarship) students.
A press note from the DoSE stated that the ENSF (Dimapur Unit) had signed MOU with private college and university like DJ College, Delhi and Mewar University, Rajasthan which was purely a private affair or business between the two groups. “The Department of Higher Education came to know only when problem surfaced between the two groups due to non reimbursement of fees in full,” it added.
It lamented that the two signatory groups “blames” the implementing Government department for non-release of full fee reimbursement to the students who were sent by the ENSF (Dimapur Unit) on their own arrangement following their MOU, “while the Government has released scholarship to those students as per the existing rates that is common to all the students except those that comes under PRO-RATA.”
The directorate informed that if students are sent by any department through departmental exam, the concerned department is responsible to bear the PRO-RATA which covers all the other expenses of the students besides the maintenance fee and the obligatory fee. However, under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of PMS (ST), the implementing department “strictly adheres” to the rate of fees fixed by the State Government. Therefore, it informed that the Department cannot give full reimbursement of fees not only to students of Mewar University but also to the students studying in other colleges and universities.
It also revealed that the present funding pattern is such that; the Central share is 90% funded by the Government of India and the State share is 10% funded by State Government. Therefore, the decision to fix the rate of fees totally depends upon the State Government.
The Directorate further confirmed from other neighbouring NE states that, such similar cases were also there in their respective states but unless the students were being sent by the Government, department or through the State Government initiative, the students are not being paid full reimbursement.
It then informed that the State Government had already constituted a committee headed by the Chief Secretary as the Chairman and discussed the matter relating to reviewing of Scholarship rate paid to the students under obligatory fees. “The Committee had already agreed to enhance the obligatory fee component. The Department is waiting for the issue of the order,” it said.
The Directorate also clarified that in the recent meeting cum workshop held at Delhi on July 29, organised by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the representatives of Nagaland during the discussion hour raised this very issue and “it is confirmed in the presence of Joint Secretary and Director, Ministry of Tribal Affairs that under PMS-ST Scheme, Students cannot claim for full reimbursement of fees but only as per the rate fixed by the State.”
The Ministry reportedly also instructed the department concerned to send all complaint related matters to the Ministry through proper channel for further necessary action.
