By Tarique Anwar, TwoCircles.net,
Patna: The Jharkhand government has reportedly been not much active in implementing the central government’s scholarship schemes meant for minority students. The schemes launched by the present UPA government at the centre are aimed at removing financial blockade in the way of minority students.
The state has been allotted 519 Pre-Matric and Means-cum-Merit Scholarships for all minority community students, out of which 394 is for Muslims only. But it seems there have been deliberate attempts as such that minority students could not benefit much of the schemes.
TwoCircles.net spoke to Md Naushad, ETV correspondent in Ranchi, on this issue. He alleged that the government is not honest in distribution of the sanctioned amount for educational uplift of students from minority community. The government intentionally gave very less time to submit application forms and also did not advertise these scholarship schemes in proper manner so that people could know about it, Naushad alleged.
He said that the state minority welfare department is also not very active on these issues. “Its chairman and other concerned officials speak government’s language when asked about distribution of sanctioned amount.” he said.
The responsibility of distribution of application forms was given to Tribal Community Development Corporation and it was also not made public. He appreciated Imarat Shariah, Idara Shariah and SIO’s efforts in creating awareness among minorities for these schemes. All these Muslim organisations, especially SIO, is playing very important role in ensuring maximum use of the schemes. They are also providing free application forms and helping in filling up the application forms, Naushad told TwoCircles.net.
Last year the state government invited application forms just a week before the last date of submission. Yet, 2000 students applied for Post Matric Scholarships, out of which 400 students were selected.