Nagaland: ‘Zero tolerance to any corruption in scholarship disbursement’

Our Correspondent
Kohima | July 7

Nagaland’s Higher & Technical Education and Tribal Affairs Minister Temjen Imna Along today said that since PDA took over government under the leadership of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, “it has been our  ardent endeavour to make sure that scholarships are disburse on time and there is zero tolerance to any corruption in the scholarship disbursement.”

Addressing a press conference on scholarship held in Kohima on July 7, Along said that in the January 2019, the department could disbursed all the pending scholarship that was there due to certain litigation.

“I assure you of no such litigation, PIL or any kind of corruption in the disbursement of scholarship today and in the times to come,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Minister appealed the students’ community to claim the unclaimed cheque of the previous year scholarship as soon as possible.

If it is not claim during certain time we will revert back the money to the Ministry from where we have got from the state or the ministry of tribal affairs or from the NEC, he said.

Along also asked director as well as the scholarship cell to give last appeal again and in the event of unclaimed cheque are not claim, the department will give it back to the ministry.

He also expressed gratitude to Government of India (GoI) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda for their concern and initiative towards the tribal people, for which, “we are getting this Post Matric Scholarship which is of the highest component for ST students of Nagaland and also throughout the country.

The Minister also acknowledged Chief Minister Rio for his robust vision in giving the 10% of that fund and also instituting the State Merit & Research Scholarship which is 100% state funded to the tune of few crores “so that our students can benefit beyond the Post Matric even in their degrees and in their achievements not only for ST but also for the toppers that are non local.”

Along lauded DONER Minister Dr Jitendra Singh for NEC stipend and book grant scheme which is 90:10 funding pattern in which Nagaland is also availing with the rest of the north eastern states.

This is not only for the Naga students but also for the students of north eastern states who are living and studying in Nagaland.

He appealed to NE students whether they are Manipuris, Assamese or any other community of the North East India to avail this NEC Stipend and Book Grant at all cost.

He appreciated the scholarship cell for working hard to make sure that approximately 40,000 students get scholarship on time.
Meanwhile, the Minister made a fervent appeal to all the Naga Political Groups not to demand anything in this department.

“This department should be exempted from any kind of demands,” he said.

The Minister said that with the limited resources and limited manpower, “we are trying our best to develop and build the future of our people.”