Scholarship of five ST students ‘lost in transaction'

The scholarship of five students belonging to Scheduled Tribes appears to have “disappeared in between bank accounts”. While students, who check with the bank every day, say that no money has been deposited, officials maintain that the money was transferred several days ago.

On October 21, The Hindu reported that the scholarships of five students of Meredian College in Ullal had been delayed for the last six months. The report quoted an official of the Integrated Tribal Development Project saying that the scholarship money was likely to reach the students within a week. However, nearly 10 days have passed since then, and the students have not yet received it.

A student who spoke to

The Hindu said that when college authorities checked with officials at the Corporation Bank on Monday, they were told that money had not been deposited in the Principal's account. “Fed up” with the situation, the student said that there was no other option left to borrow money and pay the fees. “I'm tired of making so many calls and running from one office to another,” the student said.

Already, the students had to pay Rs. 500 as delayed payment fine.

Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer K.N. Vijay Prakash told The Hindu that the cheque had been cleared a week ago and that the students should have received the money by now.

He said on learning about the situation, he had made the officials of the departments of social welfare, the ITDP, and the backward classes and minorities “parade” before him. He said they had been given strict instructions to expedite the disposal of benefits under the social welfare schemes.