Press Conference on Scholarship Issue

Mumbai(10.09.11): A press conference was organised for Scholarship issue.

 

Central Govt. has fixed a target of 48,157 Post Matric Scholarships for meritorious XI to PG students belonging to economically weaker sections of minority communities (Budhist, Christian, Muslim, Sikh and Parsi) so as to provide them better opportunities for higher education, increase their rate of attainment in higher education and enhance their employability.

However, in the fifth year of its implementation, though not population proportionate but short funds and physical targets are earmarked,  the gross negligency, inefficiency, lack of co-ordination among different education directorates in State and irresponsibilities, non-cooperation by Junior/Degree/PG College Principals have floundered this good scheme on the ground. 

Earlier, in the year 2009-10, against a physical target of 64,400 scholarships, only 24,000 number of scholarships were sanctioned and fund for 40,000 number of scholarships was not utilized in the State.  Same kind of story is being repeated by Directorate of Higher Education under the reason of on-line scholarships (although it is not mandatory by Central Govt.)

Till now, hardly 20 thousand applications are uploaded against the target of 48,157 Scholarships and that too are not scrutinized/verified by the concerned colleges.  Hence, S.I.O. has decided to agitate Statewide with the objective to implement this scholarship scheme cent percent, making this scheme hassle-free, student friendly and more effective.  

If needed, S.I.O. will approach the Court of Justice for this cause and irresponsible and negligent authorities/Principals will be treated with law of land for there is no other way.

S.I.O. demands strongly to extend the last date of submission of Forms instead of 15th September to 15th October 2011. Alongwith online, offline forms in printed proformas should also be accepted for convenience.  Due wide publicity in local Urdu/Marathi News papers is essential regarding extension of last date. 

Renewal applications should be collected upto December (as notified by Govt. of India).  All ATKT students should be considered eligible on par with other scholarship schemes for Backward students.  

Maximum annual income limit should be enhanced from 2 lakh to 4.5 lakh as it is implemented for Maulana Azad National Fellowships for minorities.  All eligible minority students should be awarded by scholarships with 100% Fee reimbursement as practiced for Backward communities.

Report By Mohd Ali Shaikh Campus Secretary SIO MS-South Zone