Scholarship pattern tweak irks BYJD, BCJD

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Bhubaneswar: Members of Biju Yuva Janata Dal (BYJD) and Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD) staged a demonstration at Lower PMG here Friday against the Centre’s decision of changing the funding pattern of post-matric scholarship scheme for SC and ST students.
A month-long signature campaign was also launched as part of the protest. The signature campaign will reach every district with an aim to collect 10 lakh signatures which would be submitted to President Ram Nath Kovind.
BJYD president Amaresh Patri said the Union government’s move to modify the post-matric scholarship funding pattern has pushed the future of nearly 2 lakh SC/ST students in the state to darkness. Due to such modification, Odisha is bearing an additional financial burden of around `500 crore.
Earlier the Centre-State contribution for post matriculation scholarship for SC and ST students was 90:10, whereas the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has recently slashed the Centre’s contribution to 20 per cent.
While Central contribution for the scholarship was `215.8 crore in 2016-17, it was slashed to `22.48 crore for this session. As a result, Odisha’s contribution increased to 80 per cent. “It is very unfortunate that the Centre has not even provided its contribution of 20 per cent,” advisor of BCJD, Chinmaya Sahu said.
Many leaders such as Bhubaneswar-North MLA Priyadasrhi Mishra, Bhubaneswar-Central MLA Bijay Mohanty and minister Sashi Bhusan Behera and others were present.