A delay on the part of the state government in verifying the scholarship applications of Meghalaya students has led to the latter missing out on financial aid in what appears to be a gross case of negligence.
The students in question are studying at the Himachal Dental College, Sundernagar, and did not receive the scholarships that they had applied for last year. The officials responsible were reportedly “too busy” to complete the process on time.
Speaking to Highland Post, a parent of one of the aggrieved students, requesting anonymity, said that their child had applied for the scholarship on September 13, 2021 and the institute verification was completed by November 27.
“We visited the department in Laitumkhrah thrice for a query regarding this delayed verification by the state, which resulted in the students not getting the scholarship. We were informed by the department that the due date for verification has ended as they did not verify on time,” the parent explained. “When we asked how the due date for verification ended when we submitted everything online on time, they told us that they did not verify because they were too engaged.”
However, an extension has been requested but there has been no response on this from the central government.
Students of other states have apparently not faced any such problem with the processing of their scholarships but the Meghalaya students, on the other hand, have been left disheartened.
Meghalaya students studying at other institutions are also having the same problem, which is putting many in financial distress.
Meanwhile, North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum has also received the same complaints from aggrieved parents and he lambasted the department for such negligence.
“Why were the parents made to run from pillar to post for their children’s rights and what will happen to the future of the state if such is the way of functioning?” he asked.
