Mangaluru: Delay in minority scholarships distribution sparks protest

Mangaluru, May 8: Protesting against the delay in the distribution of scholarships for the students belonging to the minority communities, the activists of the Campus Front of India, Dakshina Kannada District unit, organised a ‘Minority Office March’ on Monday from A.B Shetty Circle to the Moulana Azad Minority Bhavan in the city.

The Scholarships are provided by the Union Government to minority students under three schemes, namely – Pre-Metric Scholarship (for Primary and Secondary School applicants), Post-Metric Scholarship (for Pre-University and Degree applicants) and Merit cum Means Scholarship (for Post Graduate and Professional Studies applicants). The schemes will be implemented through the State Government.

Approximately 35 displeased students assembled in front of the Minority Bhavan, shouting slogans to protest against the delay. The Campus Front of India initiated the protest march, by representing the larger minority student community.

The protesters said the delay in the distribution of scholarships stands as a barrier for the students to apply for admissions for their further studies. The State Government, the sanctioning body, has failed to justify the reason for the delay. The National Scholarship Portal, if visited, displays the status: ‘Under Processing’. Reportedly, a very small percentage of the applicants have managed to obtain their scholarships but the Merit cum Means applicants are yet to obtain theirs. The scholarship which is usually credited to the student in the month of December, has been delayed for over five months, now.

The scholarship is a means to motivate students for higher education; however the current Government fails to realise the importance it serves to students like us. They make us run rounds, ask for new certificates, make us wait desperately and exploit us. Many students have financial troubles and find it very hard to continue their further education. The CFI had approached the Minority Office and discussed the issue, but they did not come to our rescue”, said Mohammed Riyaz, a student protester.

Mr Usman S, District Minority Officer, Dakshina Kannada, accepted the petition from the students and promised to render a follow up, on the issue. He also mentioned that as per the State Government, the scholarships are being dispersed from Monday, 8 May, 2017.