| PM's special scholarship schemes fall flat | | Fee not released by MHRD, college likely to expel 54 students | | Avinash Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 11: The career of at least 54 students from state, studying in an IT college in Punjab, is at stake as the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has not been releasing fee for two years under the Prime Minister's Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS).
Due to non-payment of fees, college's authorities have asked leave the campus, said Usman Bin Farooq, a beneficiary under PMSSS from Valley. "The authorities allowed us get studied in their college as the beneficiaries of the scheme but now the students are asked to deposit the previous outstanding and onward regular fee according to the fees structure of the college by March 10 2015", he said, adding that since he belongs to a poor and unable to pay such huge amount.
"I'm B.Tech course from Indo Global College of Engineering (IGCE) at Abhipur Mohali, where total 86 students are studying same course under the scheme", he said that the admissions were made after mandatory formalities, but the government released scholarship for 32 students.
"Rest of students (54) has no option except leave their course in mid-way, as the fee has not been paid, since their admission. We met Union HRD minister, Smriti Irani personally at her office seeking her intervention to save our carrier recently", said Ruchi Parihar another student, who is studying B.Tech from same college.
She further said that the students have also met Director All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) at his office, but things remained un-changed. "In utter frustration, some of the students have already started returning home. The scheme provided that a particular income group of boys and girls after being verified properly would be selected for admission in various colleges and Universities. However, the scholarship has not been released so far by the MHRD," he added.
Vicky Manhas another beneficiary under PMSSS, falls on serial number of 54 in lists student, who may be expelled by the college in near future as their fee is still unpaid said, "Many students have returned back with a deep sense of frustration."
"I request Prime Minister to kindly intervene in the matter and ask the ministry to ensure proper implementation of the scheme," Vicky said, adding that time action from union government could save their future, which is on verge of ruin.
"The scheme was launched with much fanfare in 2011", said Ganandeep Singh another beneficiary, adding that the colleges outside the state entertained students from J&K on the pretext that they would get fee and other expenses from the MHRD. "Owing to non-payment of fee, the future of students who enrolled in various colleges in country seems dark", he said. It is pertinent to mention here that the scheme was recommended in 2011 by an expert group headed by Dr C Rangarajan for encouraging the J&K youth to pursue higher studies outside the State. The scheme provides Rs 30000 as tuition fee a year for general courses, Rs 1.25 lakh for engineering course and Rs 3 lakh for medical courses. In addition, hostel fee up to Rs 1 lakh a year was to be paid under the scheme.
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