DHE clarifies on full fee re-imbursement under CSS

Dimapur, August 9 : The Department of Higher Education today issued a clarification on the issue of full fee re-imbursement under the terms of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme - Post Matric Scholarship as claimed by certain section of Naga students studying at Mewar University, Chittogarh which was published in local newspapers on July 23. A press statement issued by Directorate of Higher Education, Nagaland said, ENSF (Dimapur Unit) had signed an MOU with private college and university like DJ College, Delhi and Mewar University, Rajasthan which was purely a private understanding between the two groups. "The two signatory groups blames the implementing Government department for non-release of full fee reimbursement to the students who were sent by the ENSF (Dimapur Unit) on their own arrangement following their MOU with the Institution/University mentioned in Point No.l, while the Government has released scholarship to those students as per the existing rates that is common to all the students except those that comes under PRO-RATA." The department mentioned that students sent by any department through departmental exam, the concerned department is responsible to bear the PRO-RATA which covers all the other expenses of the students besides the maintenance fee and the obligatory fee. It however said, under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of PMS (ST) the implementing department strictly adheres to the rate of fees fixed by the State government and therefore, it cannot give full reimbursement of fees not only to students of Mewar University but also to the students studying in other Colleges and Universities. “The present funding pattern is such that; the Central share is 90% funded by the Government of India and the State share is 10% funded by State Government. Therefore, the decision to fix the rate of fees totally depends upon the State government.” The department said it has confirmed from the other neighbouring North-Eastern States that such similar cases were also there in their respective states, and added that unless students are sent by the Govt, department or through the State Government initiative, the students are not paid full reimbursement. The department also informed that the State government had already constituted a committee headed by the Chief Secretary as the Chairman and discussed the matter relating to reviewing of scholarship rate paid to the students under obligatory fees. The Committee had already agreed to enhance the obligatory fee component. “The Department is waiting for the issue of the order.” The Department of Higher Education also clarified that in the recent meeting-cum-workshop held at Delhi on July 29, organised by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the representatives of Nagaland during the discussion hour raised the very issue and it was confirmed in the presence of Joint Secretary and Director, Ministry of Tribal Affairs that under PMS-ST Scheme, students cannot claim for full reimbursement of fees but only as per the rate fixed by the State. “The Ministry also instructed the concerned department to send all complaint related matters to the Ministry through proper channel for further necessary action.”