Students of NE deprived of meritorious scholarship under Ishan Uday

From Mayukh Goswami

Mangaldai: Uncertainty looms large over the future career of nearly ten thousand meritorious students from economically weaker sections of the State as they are allegedly deprived of their educational  scholarship under ‘Ishan Uday’ scheme for the last two academic years . The matter is already under hot discussion in social media among the large group of students community who had enrolled themselves in different degree courses in the academic year 2017-18. Communications received here from several such students including Basanta Dutta of North Lakhimpur , Munmun Hatiboruah of Jorhat , Bhargab Das of Guwahati and Pranjal Deka of Mangaldai  among others have alleged that   they are about to appear the final examination of the last semester of their degree courses but till date they have received only the first installment of the scholarship. Even after completion of the verification process of renewal of the applications the students have been deprived of the last two installments for subsequent academic years 2018-19 and 2019-20. “I have received the first installment of rupees fifty four thousand but  the remaining two installments amounting rupees one lakh eight thousand is still pending . Like me there are nearly ten thousand staudents who are facing it .We have communicated with the UGC authority but we failed to get any desired response. The scholarship will be of no value once we complete our courses.”, said Pranjal Deka on Monday evening while talking to this correspondent . It may be mentioned here that the ‘Ishan Uday’ meritorious scholarship was introduced in the year 2014-15 for encouraging and promoting the  career of a student  joining degree courses   especially  from the North East and whose annual family income not exceeding Rs 4.5 lakh .