BJP MDC seek Centre’s intervention into scholarship issues faced by students

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 21, 2024

BJP Tura MDC Bernard N Marak has sought the intervention of Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram into scholarship issues faced by students of Meghalaya.

In a letter to Oram on Sunday, Marak said that students belonging to Scheduled Tribe (ST) of Meghalaya are facing immense difficulty in applying for Scholarship as they are asked to get the income certificate and affidavit from the State authorities instead of the autonomous district councils (ADCs), which are authorities of the STs.

“The income certificate and affidavits issued by the Autonomous District Council should be accepted for the ST students rather than the documents issued by the state officials who represents the state (General),” he said.

The MDC also pointed out that the students have raised their grievances against the complications faced by them and unaffordable charges barred some from applying as most students come from very poor families adding that students also complained that their scholarship dues are pending since last year which are not cleared and their calls are ignored by the authorities. 

“On this context I would like to request you to kindly look into this matter with urgency, acknowledging the constitutional facts and the grievances faced by the ST students. It would be appreciated if you can reply to me at the earliest assuring me that the documents like income certificate, affidavits etc issued by the MDCs / ADCs for the ST students who are applying for Scholarship would be accepted as doubt of being rejected clouds over our students. Lastly, State is not the Authority of the Schedule Tribes therefore kindly do not compel our students away from their constitutional authority – the ADCs,” he stated in the letter.

Marak also requested the union minister to consider extending the last date for applying for scholarship for ST students.