Our Correspondent
KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 9
The All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) has on Monday expressed dismay over learning that the payment of Post-Matric Scholarship (PMS) for ST students has not been cleared for 3615 eligible students due to the non-release of 10% state matching share, and also the payment of scholarships to 7217 eligible students for the year 2014-15 under the state merit scholarship and research scholars is pending because of non-payment made by the state government.
In a memorandum to the Chief Minister today, ANCSU president Zhoku Thuluo and general secretary Benjong Longchar, the union expressed disappointment that despite a number of appeals, reminders and representations to the department of Higher Education for the timely release of scholarships, the department has clarified that the merit and research scholarships were delayed due to the non-payment by the state government. In this regard, ANCSU served an ultimatum to the state government that unless it takes the students’ grievances seriously and take necessary steps to release the pending scholarship on or before November 19 next, the union will be “compelled to take its own course of action”.
The ANCSU, as the umbrella union of college students of the state, had reiterated its exasperation over the state government’s “deaf ear” towards the grievances of the students.
It reminded the Chief Minister that several number of civil societies and individuals have been defaming the Higher Education department and students organizations in social and print media for the delay in payment of scholarships, yet the state government has failed to respond positively.
“ANCSU has always been looking forward to your good authority for kind intervention in this regard, however despite our endless efforts, our demands remained fruitless and unnoticed,” the memo stated.
Towards this, the union warned that it shall not be responsible for any untoward situation in future out of its intervention should the government fail to address the issue within the stipulated time.
