Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, Feb 21: More than 3,000 post-matric students from Other Backward Classes (OBC) in East Singhbhum district have been deprived of their government scholarship for over a year due to a lack of fund allocation. The students, who rely on these scholarships for their education, have been repeatedly visiting the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) office in frustration.
The issue dates back to the financial year 2023-24. While scholarships for over 9,000 students from Scheduled Tribes (ST), Scheduled Castes (SC) and other backward categories have been disbursed, a large number of OBC students remain unpaid. A sum of Rs 4.20 crore is required to clear their pending dues.
A senior official from the district welfare department confirmed the delay, stating, “We have sent multiple requests to the department for fund allocation, but no response has been received yet.”
The scholarship amount varies based on the course: Rs 3,000-Rs 4,000 for intermediate students, Rs 80,000 for B.Tech students and Rs 60,000-Rs 65,000 for B.Ed students. The funds, once allocated, are directly transferred to the beneficiaries’ bank accounts.
Meanwhile, in the 2024-25 financial year, payments for pre-matric scholarships are ongoing, with approximately 1.3 lakh students having received funds. However, thousands are still awaiting their payments.
For post-matric scholarships, online applications are being accepted until March 31. While many applications have been submitted and locked, there is no clarity on whether the deadline will be extended. “The department has not issued any statement regarding an extension,” said a concerned official.
With thousands of students depending on these funds for their education, authorities are under pressure to resolve the issue at the earliest.
