Shillong, Jan 10: Education Minister Rakkam Sangma has said the state is waiting for funds from the Centre for disbursing the post-matric scholarship to students.
“We have done the needful. Utilization Certificates (UCs) have been sent as per requirement. So we are waiting for the Ministry to release funds ,” Rakkam told reporters on Wednesday.
He said there are over 67,000 beneficiaries. “Out of this, 37,000 plus were already given and another 57% is yet to receive their scholarship,” he said.
Rakkam said out of Rs 163 crore, only Rs 34 crore was released for disbursing scholarships to the students.
Regarding BJP MDC Bernard N Marak’s statement blaming the government for failing on the issue, the education minister said, “I have seen in the newspaper that government of India has released as per Bernard’s statement but I will be happy if he has document, he should have come and given me the letter of sanction. I don’t know how come he has received it in advance. This kind of thing can be said but facts should be substantiated.”
NCERT textbooks
He said the launching of the NCERT textbooks has been rescheduled to January 25.
“Most likely on January 25 and based on the availability and convenience of the chief minister, the textbooks will be launched in Tura first and immediately in Shillong,” Rakkam told reporters.
He said the NCERT textbooks were supposed to be launched on January 16 but had to be rescheduled in view of the visit of the President of India to Tura and Shillong.
Proxy teachers
The minister said stern action will be taken against those involved in the illegal appointment of proxy teachers in government lower primary schools.
Rakkam said he heard that in many government lower primary schools, appointment of proxy teachers is happening, whereby teachers appointed by the government illegally appoints another person to work in her/his place for some consideration.
“We will not allow all this to happen. We will make sure our officers inspect and visit the institutions and we will make sure that every teacher does his or her job because if you neglect to do your duties, you are destroying the future of the children of your community,” he said.
