Demand for State policy to reduce scholarship burden

SHILLONG: Congress legislator P.N Syiem wanted the State government to adopt a policy to tide over the shortage of funds after the release of Central share of money for the scholarships of students in the State.
During the question hour in the Assembly on Tuesday, in reply to a question by UDP’s Jemino Mawthoh, Higher and Technical Education Minister Roshan Warjri said the change of funding pattern by the Centre from 100 per cent to 90:10 has resulted in the delay in clearing pending scholarships.
However, raising a question, Syiem wanted to know whether the State government has any intention to supplement the required amount.
He said the State government should have a policy to supplement the Centre’s scholarship initiative.
“The State has so many resources and when students face crisis, the government should come up with a policy to supplement the initiative of the Centre so that students do not suffer. We are depending too much on the Centre,” Syiem added. The minister said she will examine the matter.
Earlier, in reply to a supplementary question, Warjri said for 2015-16, disbursement of scholarships is under process. “However, there was shortfall as far as 2014-15 is concerned,” she added.
Warjri said the central funding pattern was changed from 2014-15, adding that the State’s share for the year was released and for 2015-16, it is under process.
To a supplementary question, Warjri said for 2014-15, the amount required was over Rs 34.26 crore and over Rs 26 crore was released. The shortfall is Rs7.66 crore.
She said the department is processing the sanction of money to address the shortfall.
While the number of applicants for scholarships was 62,104 for 2014-15, the number of students who availed themselves of the benefits was 46,900.