DIMAPUR, MARCH 28 (MExN): The Eastern Nagaland College Students’ Union (ENCSU) on Wednesday issued a final notice to the State Government to reveal the details of the report of SIT formed to probe the alleged misuse/mismanagement of the Post Matric Scholarship (PMS) funds to the students’ community and put it in public domain.
The ENCSU in a press statement said it wanted to know the reason why the State Government was so adamant to disclose the findings of the SIT report to the public even when the investigating team had submitted its report as directed and empowered by the previous Cabinet.
“There is no reason for setting up of SIT or any investigation team if the findings are to be kept confined and no action is initiated,” the ENCSU stated.
The students’ union also wanted to know what action the present Government plans to initiate against those involved in the alleged misuse of the PMS fund and mismanagement of state government fund.
ENCSU further wondered why the Department of Higher Education and the Government of Nagaland are confusing the Naga students on the release of the scholarship. “Unfortunately, Finance Department made alternative arrangements for the scholarship without any response from the Department and the Home Commissioner why it could not receive the final installment from the central ministry,” it lamented.
Asking how the Department can adjust the first installment of 2017-18 amount sanctioned from the central ministry for 2016-17 scholarship, the union told the State government not to confuse the students by lending a government fund from one department to another. “Students scholarship is a scheme from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the State Department should offer the amount to the Central Scheme itself,” it asserted. The statement meanwhile asked the Department and the State government to streamline the scheme to the Department immediately.
The ENCSU while demanding answers at the earliest has cautioned that it was ready to “lock” the gate of Directorate of Higher Education if there is no response from the government. In this connection, it has requested all the students to prepare mentally and physically to fight for their rights. It also requested all the Naga apex organizations to keep an eye on the issue.
