Central Govt. fixed a target of 48,157 Post Matric Scholarships for meritorious XI to PG students belonging to economically weaker sections of minority communities so as to provide them with better opportunities for higher education, increase their rate of attainment in higher education and enhance their employability. However, in the fifth year of its implementation, the gross negligence, inefficiency, lack of co-ordination among different education directorates in State and non-cooperation by Junior/Degree/PG College Principals, tumbled the scheme on the ground. Earlier, in the year 2009-10, against the target of 64,400 scholarships, only 24,000 scholarships were sanctioned and funds for 40,000 scholarships were left unutilised.
SIO strongly demands to extend the last date of submission of Forms from 15th September to 15th October 2011, as till now, only 20 thousand applications have reached, and that too have not been verified by the college authorities. SIO also demanded that the maximum annual income limit should be enhanced from 2 lakh to 4.5 lakh as it is implemented for Maulana Azad National Fellowships for minorities. SIO has decided to agitate Statewide with the objective to implement this scholarship scheme making it student-friendly and more effective.
If needed, SIO will approach the Court of Justice for this cause and irresponsible and negligent authorities/Principals will be treated with law of the land.