Meghalaya: Students give government 10-day ultimatum to disburse scholarship

SHILLONG: Outraged by the ongoing delay in scholarship disbursements, student groups NEHUSU and HYC served a 10-day ultimatum to the Meghalaya government on Wednesday, demanding the immediate release of funds to struggling students.

The two organizations staged a protest outside the MBoSE office, highlighting the plight of countless students left in the lurch.

HYC president Roy Kupar Synrem revealed that scholarships remain unreleased for both first-time applicants and half of the renewal applicants, despite being a crucial source of financial support for many.

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Recalling a previous instance where scholarships were abruptly distributed after HYC threatened a rally, Synrem lamented the repeated delays and unfulfilled promises.

He said that the funds are typically released in October, further pointing to Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma's November 2023 statement assuring disbursement within two or three weeks.

He questioned the government's priorities by comparing the scholarship delay to readily allocated funds for disaster relief and festivities.

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"If the government can provide Rs. 1 crore for flood relief in Sikkim and support various organizations for festivals, why can't it use the contingency funds to prioritize our students' education?" Synrem challenged.