KL Report
SRINAGAR
Minister for Education, Naeem Akhtar Monday said that at present students from Jammu and Kashmir are provided scholarship for pursuing different professional, general degree courses in various colleges under the Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS). He said that 8745 students of the State stands granted this scholarship so for.
According to an official statement, the Minister was replying to a Calling Attention Notice of Qaiser Jamsheed Lone in the Legislative Council today.
“Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme was launched by the Union Ministry of Human Resources Development during the year 2011-12 envisaging providing 5000 scholarships per year (250 medical, 250 engineering, and 4500 general degree courses) with an overall financial implication of Rs. 74.124 crore,” he informed.
Naeem said that in 2011-12 only 38 students could get benefit under the scheme while the State Government was asked to give wide publicity to the scheme so that the target of 5000 scholarship could be achieved.
“The guidelines of the scheme were further revised and admissions against supernumerary quota seats in the eligible institute were introduced w.e.f 24th August 2012, without disturbing the students who had already gained admissions in various universities, colleges, institutes up to 23rd 2012,” Naeem said.
The Minister said that supernumerary quota seats were to be administered by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the applications for the same were to be compulsorily made online through AICTE website. He said in response 3340 students got benefited during the year 2012-13.
“A large number of students especially from Kashmir Valley were duped by some NGOs who promised them scholarships without taking into consideration the terms and conditions of the scheme notified in the guidelines for its implementation,” he said.
Akhtar further said that in order to further streamline the implementation of the said scheme the Union Government decided that 2014-15 onwards the entire process of admissions under the scholarship scheme would be administered by the AICTE through the process of counseling.
He said that regarding the payment of scholarship during the current year, MHRD Government of India has released funds to the tune of Rs 25 Crore to AICTE on account of payment for 2nd renewal of scholarship for the students of academic year 2012-13 and 1strenewal scholarship for the students of Academic year 2013-14 for further release in favour of the beneficiary institutions/students by the AICTE.
