By Abdul Basith MA, TwoCircles.net,
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala govt have decided to increase the scholarship amounts and hostel stipends to Muslim girls and the scheme will be named after former Chief Minister and late IUML leader, CH Muhammed Koya. The official declaration is not yet out as the code of conduct are on the way getting completed.
Based on the Sachar recommendations the Left Democratic Front [LDF] govt had earlier deployed the Paloli Muhammed Kutty committee and it was according to the recommendations of this committee the Scholarship scheme was first launched.
Former educational minister of the then LDF govt, MA Baby while speaking to TCN told, “Now there are chances that even more central funds will be allocated on this regard and the Congress lead UDF govt instead of increasing the number of scholarships and covering even more needy Muslim girls under the scheme have decided to make a meagre increase in the scholarship amount, this is unfortunate”
He said that the decision to name it after the late IUML leader has been done with the intension of taking away the credit from former LDF govt, who actually took keen interest in helping out those Muslim girls, by at first implementing the scheme on a timely basis.
The scholarship amounts for Muslim girls by LDF govt were availed as follows: 3000 rupees for 3000 degree students, Rs 4000 for 1000 Post Graduate students and Rs 5000 for 1000 professional course students. Thus 5000 scholarships were distributed in 2008. Besides there was a hostel stipend of 1000 rupees monthly, which would sum up to Rs 10,000 annually
Now the UDF govt have decided to increase it as Rs 4000 for degree students, 5000 for PG students and 6000 for the Professional course students. The hostel stipend has been increased to 1200 rupees monthly taking it to an annual amount of Rs 12,000 annually.