Hyderabad: Minorities face delay in scholarship

Hyderabad: Minority students are not getting payment of scholarship on time under the overseas scholarship scheme. Besides, the government has not issued a notification inviting application for the scheme for the ongoing academic year.

The government provides an assistance of Rs 20 lakh to minority students for pursuing higher education in foreign universities under the Chief Minister’s Overseas Scholarship Scheme for Minorities. Selected students are provided Rs 5 lakh on production of landing permit and another Rs 5 lakh on production of the first semester. The last instalment of Rs 10 lakhs towards fees and living expenses is sanctioned  after joining the course.

The government invites applications from students twice in a year as foreign universities admit students in the spring and fall sessions. The government could not issue notifications on time due to the series of elections.

For the fall season of 2018, the minority welfare department invited applications in February this year. For the current year no notification has been issued so far.

Mr Syed Asad Quadri said students from Hyderabad selected for the spring session 2018 received Rs 10 lakh, while the students selected for the fall session 2018 did not get any money.

Director, minorities welfare, Shahnawaz Qasim clarified that amount are being disbursed through e-pass mechanism. Most of the students received the amount and the remaining students will also get their due amount very soon.

He said the minorities welfare department received an amount of Rs 980 crore so far. He said, "We have sent the file for inviting new applications under this scheme. Hopefully, the government will accord permission this month.”