Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma today clarified that the ongoing disbursement of the Umbrella Scholarship for Scheduled Tribe (ST) students is being carried out in phases to ensure equitable distribution among all eligible beneficiaries.
Responding to reporters, Sangma said the first installment has already been released, and funds will start reflecting in students’ bank accounts in a phased manner. “Earlier, the entire scholarship amount would be credited to the first 20,000 applicants, while the remaining 40,000 had to wait. This time, we’ve adopted a fairer method by splitting the total amount and distributing it equally across all beneficiaries,” he explained.
The minister also provided an update on the Chief Minister’s Scholarship Scheme, which is yet to be officially notified. Once launched, students will receive an additional Rs 6,000 under the new scheme, over and above the amount given under the Umbrella Scholarship funded by the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
Sangma assured that the disbursement process will be completed within two to three more installments, ensuring that all eligible students receive their entitlements. However, he acknowledged that around 6,000 to 7,000 students are currently facing delays due to banking issues, including incorrect details provided and/or non-linkage with Aadhaar.
