Shillong, Feb 23: Tura BJP MDC Bernard Marak has said the state government is delaying the release of state share of 10% thereby affecting the students who are availing scholarships.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Marak said, “Denying scholarship to the students in the state is denial and betrayal of the rights of the ST students of their rightful privileges. I checked with the Tribal Ministry on delay of payment of scholarship to the students and I was informed that the list forwarded by the state has been cleared on priority basis. However, 90% which the Centre pays cannot be transferred to the student’s accounts until the 10% share of the state is transferred by the state for payment. State delays in clearing the list of the students and the 10% which has led to confusion and delay in clearing the scholarships depriving many students of their rights”.
According to Marak, the state is deducting 4% cess tax from mobile recharges of the students every month which amounts to crores of rupees as one ST student recharging for Rs 300 per month by default pays Rs 12 as cess tax to the government.
“How government cannot clear the 10% in time remains a big question. Chief Minister and the Education Minister is humbly requested to address the woes of the ST students as most of these students come from a poor background. If education is the first priority as promised during election, so must be he welfare of the students”, he added.
