Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 3
The Eastern Naga Students’ Union Dimapur (ENSUD) on Thursday maintained that the 150 students placed at an engineering college in Uttar Pradesh, through the Union’s arrangement with the institute, were lawfully entitled to avail scholarship money under the post matric scholarship scheme sponsored by the union ministry of Tribal Affairs.
At a press conference here today, ENSUD officials drew the attention of Deo Nukhu, the parliamentary secretary for Higher and Technical Education, and the general public, to the fact that the former’s educational initiative has been covered by the said scholarship program for scheduled tribe, as is the case in “all the states and union territories” of the country. They clarified that the students had not applied for scholarship money under any other scheme/program.
Rather, the ENSUD expressed resentment over the statement made by the parliamentary secretary for Higher and Technical Education at a press conference at Kohima on Wednesday that he had no idea about the problems faced by the students involved.
The ENSUD officials reminded that the initiative of placing students at selected institutes across the country –with prior agreement with the institutes concerned – was to enable students, not selected through the state quota, to find seats without “donating” hefty amounts of money. Besides, it also ensures that the students would pay only one-time admission money to the institute concerned, they said.
Prior to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Divya Jyoti College of Engineering and Technology, the ENSUD had applied necessary background checks to ensure that the institute was genuine and recognized, according to ENSUD officials.
They asserted that the exodus of 150 students was not because of “failure” of the MoU but due to the delay in releasing scholarship money by the state government. “It may be noted that the ministry of Tribal Affairs had released the scholarship amount of Rs. 5,47,00,000 on June 27, 2014-15 as first installment and Rs. 17,82,58,635 as second installment on December 30, 2014-15 respectively.
“But the state government took a year to release the said amount. But the state government is deteriorating the issue and hijacking the rights of the students.”
NSF clarifies on its position
The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) while issuing a press note to clear “all doubts” in regard to its initiative of sending Naga students to Hyderabad for engineering and ‘medicinal studies’ said that on April 15, 2014 the Federation received a letter of request from Dr.YSR Educational and Welfare Foundation Group of Institution to help them in the noble project of giving free education to the meritorious poor students from Nagaland and other states of Northeastern states. According to the NSF, they claimed that Dr. YSR Educational and Welfare Foundation Group of Institution was initiated by the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Late YS Reddy’s son Jagan Mohan Reddy and his family members to keep alive their father’s good deeds done for the poor students. Following which another letter was written to the NSF by Milon Choudhury, President of All Assam Students’ Association (AASA) claiming himself as the co-ordinator of Dr. YSR Educational & Welfare Foundation Group of Institution for availing the wonderful opportunity of free education offered by the Dr YSR Foundation. “That is how the NSF, thinking that it will be a noble initiative for the Naga students, gave advertisement for interested students with sole intention to help them”.
The NSF statement then said that altogether 121 students for engineering and 83 students for medicinal courses turned up. The engineering students joined Ellenki College of Engineering and Technology and the rest joined the MNR Group of Institution, it added.
“The condition given by Dr YSR Foundation and AASA for availing this free education was to pay Rs. 25,000 as registration fee and Rs. 60,000 as mess fee which is refundable after the completion of the course. The YRS foundation and AASA have also promised to help those students who are unable to pay the mess fee of Rs. 60,000 by applying loan on their behalf,” the NSF statement claimed.
“That is how the students themselves have deposited Rs. 25,000 as registration fee directly in the Dr YSR Foundation and AASA accounts respectively. Out of 121 students in Ellenki College of Engineering and Technology, only 56 students got minority scholarship—17 students got Rs. 28,000, 32 students got Rs. 29,000 and 7 students Rs. 30,000 as scholarship from Ministry of Minority Affairs (MOMA) which was directly deposited by the ministry to the students’ account. Again, out of the 56 students, 27 students have submitted their scholarship to AASA officials from Hyderabad itself and the remaining 29 students have submitted through NSF office. The amount submitted by 29 students was deposited to AASA account by NSF for which detail bank deposit receipts maintained by the NSF was shown to the students and the parents as proof,” it added.
According to the statement of the Federation, as for the mess fee collection, majority of the students have submitted in the NSF office. Therefore whatever money was collected as mess fee, it was deposited to AASA account on August 21, August 25, September 8 and September 13, 2014 respectively. Detail bank receipts have been maintained by NSF and it was also made available to the students and parents as proof. Therefore, the question of NSF officials misusing the students’ money or contribution from the well wishers and from the government does not arise at all. Every penny that was submitted by the students to NSF was exactly deposited to AASA since they were the main agent and they have promised to take care of the students for the entire course of study, it added.
According to the NSF statement, later on it was learnt that the AASA and Dr. YSR Welfare Foundation have not paid even a penny to Ellenki College though they have collected lakhs of rupees from the students. Milon Choudhury have assured the Ellenki College authority to clear the fees several times but he failed to do so thus far. It also stated that Milon Choudhury has also admitted in front of the Ellenki parents’ union that the amount he received from the students and thereby gave a written assurance to the parents to pay the fees in two installments—first installment on September 1 and the second installment on or before October 15, 2014. “However, till today he has not cleared the fees”.
The NSF then said that understanding the problems faced by the students, Ellenki parents union and NSF have decided to work hand and hand with trust and understanding in any issue that might arise and also to initiate befitting action against Milon Choudhury.
“Therefore, if anyone wants to clarify their doubts on issues related to Ellenki College can come to NSF office and clarify their doubts instead of sitting at home and posting incorrect and concocted information/comments in the social media. NSF and the Ellenki parents union is constantly monitoring the situation in Ellenki College. However, besides that if anyone wants to extend their support for the welfare of the students of Ellenki College, one should come forward and share your thoughts and ideas freely and honestly,” the NSF statement added.
The NSF then “invited” Jolly Peter to its office with proof of accusing the Ferderation as fraud. Necessary action will be initiated against Jolly Peter if he fails to oblige, warned the student body.
