Crime branch to probe NGOs fiddling in SSS

SANA ALTAF. Dated: 10/5/2013 1:30:32 PM

SRINAGAR, Oct 4: Admitting the faulty implementation of Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS) chief minister Omar Abdullah said the issue of fraudulent intervention of NGOs into the scheme has been referred to the crime branch.
Responding to a question raised in the legislative council during question hour by MLC Sheikh Ghulam Rasool and Ravinder Kumar Sharma on Friday, Omar said that he has taken up the matter with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
He revealed that state government does not have any role in monitoring or implementation of the scheme which gave space for NGOs to intervene.
“Though the state has no role in the scheme, we cannot escape from our responsibility. It is very good scheme. If successful, it will settle the future of scores of our students.”
He stated the scheme was conceptualized, implemented and run by the government of India but during its progress lacunas came up.
“NGOs came to play the role. They misled and used students for their own benefits. Unfortunately some established NGOs, who host large scale events and invite VVIPs, came into play. We have referred the case of NGOs to the crime branch. They shall take action in this regard,” Omar said.
He appealed the students not to fall into the trap of the NGOs. Under the current guidelines of the scheme, they have to take direct admissions in the colleges.
“Students must know that if five students have already been given admission in a college, top five students on merit shall be granted scholarship. Here 10-40 students are given admission in colleges hoping that they shall get GOI.”
Omar said that he has raised the issue with Prime Minister, stating that some students have not been able to understand the scheme or have been cheated by NGOs.
“I have asked for one time exception for students so that they do not suffer. Besides, I asked that the state government cannot be kept away from the scheme, the guidelines of the scheme should be changed and the role of higher education should be included,” Omar told the house.
The government of India, ministry of human resource department had announced the PMSS scheme for the students belonging to Jammu and Kashmir passing out of class 12 or equivalent exam. As revealed by the government the scheme provide 5000 fresh scholarship per annum which includes 4500 for general degree courses, 250 medical and 250 engineering. The income ceiling amounts to Rs 4.5 lakhs per annum which has been raised to Rs 6 lakhs while the reservation would be provide as per the norms of the state government. So far an amount of Rs 31.9 crores has been released to grant scholarship to 2858 students of the state.
The government further stated that there has been criticism due to the reason that some students from the state were granted admission in some institution outside the state in bulk with the hope of getting the benefits of the scheme
“But only five students in a particular college would be give scholarship under the scheme regardless of the number of students admitted in a particular college. In case more than five students get admission, scholarship shall be granted to top five.”
The department of higher education had received some complaints about NGOs misleading parents and students who call themselves sponsors.
Minister for higher education, Akhbar Lone told the house that the matter has been taken with the ministry of human resource department, government of India.
“We have received complaints from students and we are trying our best to deal with it even though the state has no role in the scheme.”
Besides PMSSS, issues regarding electrification, road connectivity, water supply and transportation of rural districts of the state were discussed during the question hour of the upper house.

 

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