The government’s inaction has put paid to the hopes of 1.24 lakh minority students who are desperately looking for sanction of pre and post-matric scholarships. Even chances of renewal of the existing scholarships appear remote during the current academic year. Those awaiting sanction of the bankable loan scheme for this financial year also face the same quandary.
Not long ago, community leaders hailed the Telangana government when it announced allocation of Rs. 1,030 crore budget for minorities.
But in less than seven months, the euphoria has evaporated thanks to the government for not living up to its promise. All that it has released so far is just Rs. 185 crore. With just two months left for the financial year to close, the unspent budget is set to lapse. At best, the government will be able to spend not more than Rs. 250 crore, officials admit.
The scholarship muddle is attributed to the delay in framing of guidelines to the Financial Aid to Students of Telangana (FAST) scheme. Some persons have also challenged the scheme in the High Court.
The government has released merely Rs. 75 crore – Rs. 60 crore towards fee reimbursement arrears of 2013-14 and Rs. 15 crore for the post-matric scholarship.
It needs to release another Rs. 90 crore to clear the backlog. For the year 2014-15, the online registration for fee reimbursement is yet to start. The Telangana government has not even released its share of matching grant of Rs. 8.66 crore for the pre-matric scholarships sanctioned by the Government of India for the year 2013-14.
The AP government, however, has released Rs. 12 crore towards its share. Interestingly, the Telangana government is also sitting over the Rs. 48.02 crore pre-matric scholarship sanctioned by the Government of India for 2014-15.
Though the money was released on November 11, the State government is yet to disburse it.
Under the bank-linked self employment scheme, Rs. 95 crore is earmarked in the budget. But loans sanctioned during 2013-14 for 3,779 persons involving subsidy amount of Rs. 18.61 crore has not been released yet. Worse the government has ordered revalidation of the already approved applications through GO 165. This process would further delay release of funds, it is said.
The Shadi Mubarak scheme too is moving at a tardy pace. So far, 1,500 applications have been received, the maximum of 311 from Hyderabad. Of these, only 355 applications have been sanctioned while 1,034 are pending verification. Getting hold of income, age and community certificate is proving difficult for many, it is said.
The government has released only Rs. 185 crore. With the financial year ending in just two months, the unspent budget is set to lapse
