THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, April 21: In a proactive move to address the ongoing scholarship crisis faced by marginalised students in Jharkhand, Tribal Welfare Commissioner Ajay Nath Jha will host a webinar on 24 April at 3 PM.
The session aims to provide a platform for students—particularly from Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Other Backward Class (OBC) communities—to voice their challenges in accessing scholarships and suggest measures to enhance the delivery system.
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Mounting Frustration Over Delays
In January 2024, around 100 students held a protest in Ranchi, demanding urgent release of overdue funds for the academic years 2021–22 and 2022–23. They called for the immediate disbursement of at least 60% of the pending amounts to relieve financial pressure and avoid further disruption to their studies.
The state’s e-Kalyan portal, responsible for scholarship processing, has drawn sharp criticism for not functioning properly. A recent audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) uncovered that over ₹5 lakh had been disbursed to 81 fictitious beneficiaries.
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Urgent Reforms Needed
Despite budget allocations exceeding ₹700 crore, the inconsistent disbursement underscores a pressing need for administrative reforms. As the new academic year looms, students and their families are calling for transparency and timely action.
For scholarship updates, students can visit: e-Kalyan Portal.