Bhubaneswar: Despite prompt action and implementation of online procedure, irregularities have been made at institute-level in uploading of merit details of students for selection of the e-Medhabruti scholarship scheme of higher education department. This time the government itself has found the irregularities.
The government has invited online applications from the students for award of fresh and renewal scholarship under e-medhabruti scholarship scheme and the applications were verified offline by the concerned institution heads. It was found that the marks figured by the institutions is not matching with the original marks obtained by the concerned student, official sources said.
However, the government has not distributed the scholarship to the students found ineligible during verification.
After finding the irregularities, additional chief GVV Sarma Wednesday written letter to all principals and asked them to upload details of students like income certificate, mark sheets, resident certificate and bank accounts.
“For the year 2016-17, the list of provisionally selected students was uploaded on the website on 22.05.2017 with instruction to the principals to verify the non-validated applications by 07.06.2017. However, it is a matter of serious concern that less than 15 per cent of institutions have replied so far. Even among the validated cases, it was found that ineligible applicants have also been validated leading to doubts whether the principal had actually verified with due application of mind,” Sarma said in his letter.
“The inconsistencies include marks claimed by students not matching with the marks list given by Board of Secondary Education (BSE) and Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE),” he pointed out.
In order to expedite disposal of e-Medhabruti scholarships to eligible students, the government has prescribed new procedure and asked the principals to follow it.
It has been decided that for both the year 2016-17 and 2017-18, the fresh as well as renewal cases, will be authenticated online by the head of the institution or principal of the college. This means no further offline documents will be entertained.
The secretary has instructed the principals to collect students’ details including income certificate, mark sheets, resident certificate, caste certificate (for SC and ST students) and bank accounts and verify as per the e-Medhabruti guidelines. If the application of the student is found valid, then the principals would upload the details of students in the website (www.medhabruti.org).
The principals have to authenticate the applications of the students for the year 2016-17 by August 10 and August 20 for the year 2017-18. If any principal or head of the institution would be personally responsible for any further irregularities, the government warned.
Earlier, gross irregularities have been reported in selection of applicants and distribution of scholarship to the students. After that, the government has made it online. The government provides `10,000 every year to each engineering and professional degree student and PG Merit students, `12,000 to Special Girl Merit, `5,000 to senior Merit and `3,000 to junior merit students who qualifies for e-Medhabruti scholarship.
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