Banks told to release scholarships by May 15

[sajiv]

Banks told to release scholarships by May 15

Denies reports of 'corruption' in online scholarships

Rs. 396 cr. still with State for scholarships

HYDERABAD: The government has asked banks to complete the process of releasing scholarships and reimbursement of tuition fee to students and educational institutions respectively by May 15.

Denying reports in a section of the print media that the online scholarship release system has gone haywire following 'corruption', Finance Minister K. Rosaiah, however, admitted on Monday that there was a delay in the release of scholarships.

Assurance
It was due to the usual year-end audit in banks in March. He said that students would soon receive their scholarships and the educational institutions tuition fee reimbursement.

Speaking to reporters along with Ministers P. Subhash Chandra Bose (Social Welfare) and D. S. Redya Naik (Tribal Welfare) after reviewing the issues, at a meeting attended by Backward Classes Minister M. Mukesh, Mr. Rosaiah said 60 per cent of the sanctioned funds had reached students and educational institutions.

The remaining were on the way, having been released already.

The Minister said students and institutions need not worry because Rs. 396 crore was still available with the government towards scholarships and reimbursement.

'Saturation concept'
All eligible students from upper castes would get these benefits this year also as 'saturation concept' was adopted for them, with an allocation of Rs. 600 crore in the 2009-10 budget.

Mr. Rosaiah, who earlier reviewed prices of essential commodities, denied a charge that rice was not available in the State for Rs. 20 a kg as assured by the government. "How can this be?"he said referring to the availability of 59,21,950 tonnes of rice in the State out of the year's crop.