Stalin, Dalit leaders demand tough action in post-matric scholarship scam

Responding to DT Next report exposing a scam in the scheme by 80 institutions, Stalin said the government should immediately order a probe and initiate action against whichever institution involved in the scam. Describing the post-matric scholarship scam as “Himalayan Corruption,” Stalin said the scam made people wonder if the Minister concerned was in slumber when the crucial scholarship money necessary to support Adi Dravidar student’s education was being denied. The scam shows that Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami was engrossed in “commission, collection and corruption” unaware of the suspension of scholarship to Adi Dravidar students.

Stalin who posted an image of DT Next report on his official Twitter handle said the ruling AIADMK should realize that this is a grave injustice meted out to the Adi Dravidar students.

VCK leader Ravikumar told thenewspaper on Thursday that the scam should be treated as crime and guilty should be booked. “It is a social crime. Thousands of underprivileged students are denied scholarship due to irregularities committed by the institutions,” he added. Claiming that the scam can be treated as an economic offence, the Dalit leader, pointing to the CAG report, said that audit was done in only ten districts. “For this itself, lots of misappropriations of funds were reported. If the CAG has taken all the districts into account, more irregularities will crop up.”

He pointed out that due to lack of funds the state government is offering scholarship to the students studying in the state-owned colleges. “By this way, several thousands of SC students, who pursue their higher education in private institutions, were denied scholarship,” he said adding “therefore, most of the students could not continue higher studies.”

Ravikumar alleged that the BJP at the Centre also reduced the funds meant for scholarships during the last few years, which adversely affected the deserving students.

Dalit activist and noted artist K Pandiyan said that when the release of funds is delayed by the Centre how come the state could contribute 100 per cent for the scholarship scheme.

“More officials should be engaged to handle scholarship scheme so that a huge number of applications will not be pending, which was indicated by the CAG report,” he said adding that a stringent system should be in place so that only deserving candidates apply for the scholarship programme.