By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net,
Srinagar: Crime Branch Jammu and Kashmir has formally registered a case for alleged cheating of students by some agencies/NGOs on the pretext of providing the students benefits under the Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSS).
The government of India, Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) had in the year 2011-12 granted 5,000 scholarships to the students of J&K for pursuing studies in various institutions of the country. The scholarship was meant for the students of the state who had passed 10+2 from the J&K Board of School Education and CBSE with annual income of their parents not exceeding Rs 4.5 lakh.
Kashmiri students called off strike on Wednesday after assurance from the J&K govt
Crime Branch J&K had received complaints with allegations that students of J&K have been cheated by extorting money on the pretext of providing them benefits under the PMSSS. Accordingly, an inquiry was ordered to investigate into the matter. During the course of inquiry, it surfaced that some NGOs/consultancies developed nexus with private educational institutions of different states and under the garb of the above scholarship lured candidates and induced them to deposit huge amounts as security deposits, police officials said. It was further found that the students to whom the admissions were deceitfully granted were not provided any scholarship by MHRD under the PMSSS.
Crime Branch Kashmir is investigating to bring the culprits to book, the official said.
Meanwhile, the 13 Kashmiri students from Rohtak Institute of Engineering and Management College, who were on a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar since last Saturday, called off their strike on Wednesday, May 13, after an assurance from PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti that the matter is being pursued with the MHRD, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and a breakthrough is expected in the near future.
“We were called by Mehbooba Mufti to the Jammu and Kashmir House on Wednesday where she asked us to call off the strike. She assured us that the matter (PMSSS) is already being pursued with the MHRD, PMO office,” said Nasir Sofi, one of the Kashmiri students on strike.
In a related news, almost as an afterthought, the National Students Union of India (NSUI) on Thursday held a strong protest against the MHRD for not releasing the scholarships to students studying under the PMSSS. The protest was led by Prakash Singh Dadwal, district president NSUI Unit Kishtwar, a release said. The NSUI activists assembled at Dak Bungalow, Kishtwar and marched towards office of the Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar.
While accusing the central government, Dadwal said, “The students were assured that the MHRD would pay their fees, but unfortunately the same has been stopped. The college authorities are now demanding money from the students.”
Dadwal informed that due to this reason Management and Technology institute in Greater Noida has allegedly “not issued the admit cards to several students with the result they have missed two papers.” He also claimed that some students have been forced by some institutions to leave their studies mid-way.
He also threatened that NSUI will start a country wide protest if students don’t get justice.
(With inputs from CNS)
Related:
13 Kashmiri students reinstated by Rohtak College
Kashmiri Students ‘selected’ under PM scholarships scheme expelled from Rohtak college
13 Kashmiri students to start hunger strike at Jantar Mantar from Saturday