Maharashtra SIO to agitate against poor implementation of post-matric scholarship

By TCN News,

Mumbai: To highlight the problems being faced by minority students in getting centrally sponsored post-matric scholarship and poor implementation of the scheme due to negligent attitude of concerned officials in Maharashtra, the state chapter of Students Islamic Organization of India (SIO) has decided to organize statewide agitation.

“The Central Govt. has fixed a target of 48,157 Post-matric scholarships for meritorious students of class XI to PG belonging to economically weaker sections of minority communities (Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, Sikh and Parsi) to provide them better opportunities for higher education and enhance their employability. But the gross negligence, inefficiency, lack of co-ordination among different education directorates in the state and irresponsibility by Junior/Degree/PG College principals in the state have floundered this good scheme on the ground” said Mohd Ali Shaikh, Campus Secretary of SIO Maharashtra.

Giving the details about the implementation of the scheme in the state, he said: “In the year 2009-10, against a physical target of 64,400 scholarships, only 24,000 scholarships were sanctioned and fund for 40,000 number of scholarships was not utilized in the state. This year the same attitude is being shown by directorate of Higher Education. 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 while the last date to submit the form is 15th September. Hence, we have decided to agitate statewide with the objective to implement this scholarship scheme cent percent, making this scheme hassle-free, student friendly and more effective.”

He further said: “Soon, we will announce the schedule of our agitating programs in the state. If needed, SIO will approach the court of justice for this cause and irresponsible and negligent authorities/Principals will be treated with law of land.”

He demanded the government to extend the last date for submission of forms from Sept. 15 to October 15 2011 and publicity in local Urdu/Marathi newspapers about the schemes and about last date of submission of applications.