By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 10: The state BJP on Sunday said the delay in releasing the scholarship despite assurance is defeating the objective of Centre’s initiatives such as the umbrella scholarship for students to clear their tuition fees and other college expenses.
“Students should be part of Digital India. Students should know how to check the status of their scholarship and other benefit schemes online. We want to ensure that the students get their dues in time. We have been tracking and assisting the students to know the status of their scholarship and payments. The lapses lie not with the Centre,” said State BJP vice president, and MDC, Bernard N Marak.
Recalling that Education Minister Rakkam Sangma had assured the release of scholarships after two weeks, which was anticipated by thousands of students, he said, “Many are yet to receive the payments. In many colleges, students could not even clear the tuition fees which have disheartened many poor students”.
He said that the objective of issuing umbrella scholarship by the Centre was to assist the students to clear their tuition fees and other college expenses, adding that the delay is defeating its purpose.
Stating that students should know that the umbrella scholarship payment which is made through PFMS can be tracked online, he said, “Students should check the status of
their scholarship in PFMS website. PFMS stands for Public Financial Management System which is a portal that provides financial assistance to economically backward students”.
“The Public Financial Management System programme is a government-owned programme where financial funds are given to beneficiaries who are eligible students of the state,” he added.
Stressing that the students should know their rights and be aware of how to check their balance online, he said, “They should check the status of their scholarship online to know the payment made through PFMS. Log in at the PFMS official website: pfms.nic.in.”
“Click on the ‘Know Your Payments’ option under the ‘Payments’ tab on the homepage. Choose your payment method, either through bank or Aadhaar number and the payment details can be acquired online,” he added.