The North Eastern Hill University Students Union (NEHUSU) and the Hynñiewtrep Youth Council (HYC) joined forces today and protested in front of the Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBOSE) office here, demanding the immediate release of scholarships, both fresh and renewals, for the academic year 2023.
During the protest, leaders of NEHUSU and HYC issued a collective ultimatum, giving the state government a 10-day deadline to address the scholarship issue. They warned of escalating their agitation if a resolution is not reached within the stipulated time.
HYC President, Roy Kupar Synrem expressed the students’ concerns to news reporters, highlighting the critical need for timely scholarship disbursement. He emphasized that the delay has affected both fresh applicants and 50 per cent of renewal students, causing significant distress.
Synrem questioned the state government’s priorities, noting instances of financial assistance to other regions while scholarships for local students remain pending. He urged the government to utilize contingency funds for immediate scholarship release and later replenish the fund when allocations from the central government are received.
In a vocal stance against the Chief Minister’s aspirations of transforming Meghalaya into a $10 billion economy, the HYC president, raised critical questions about the state’s development priorities. Synrem emphasised the need to address educational challenges over mere economic growth.
He questioned the practical implications of a multi-billion dollar economy without a corresponding investment in human resources.
The HYC president expressed concerns about the fate of infrastructure development if students are compelled to abandon their education prematurely.
Synrem highlighted the paradox of allocating substantial funds for infrastructure while overlooking the educational needs of the state’s youth. He urged the state government to utilize the available contingency fund to promptly release pending scholarships. Drawing attention to instances of financial aid extended to other regions, he called for similar support for Meghalaya’s students.
The HYC chief emphasised the role of education in shaping the state’s future, stressing that the youth are the cornerstone of Meghalaya’s development. He proposed a practical solution, suggesting that once funds arrive from the central government, they can be replenished into the contingency fund.
The students urged the state government to take swift action, emphasising the urgency of releasing the pending scholarships to ensure the academic continuity of Meghalaya’s students.
