Mehbooba seeks HRD Minister’s intervention to help Kashmiri students
Regrets ‘dismal implementation of PMSSS’
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and MP Mehbooba Mufti Monday called on Minister of Human Resource Development Simriti Irani in New Delhi seeking her intervention in resolving the problems faced by the students of Jammu and Kashmir on account of poor implementation of Prime Minister Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS).
During the meeting, Mehbooba highlighted various incidents wherein Kashmiri students were served expulsion notices and the similar incidents in last four years wherein the students from the state had to face mental trauma and humiliation, a PDP press release said.
The PDP president expressed serious concern over the treatment meted out to Kashmiri students covered under PMSSS at the hands of various college and university authorities outside the state.
Mehbooba said the dismal implementation of PMSSS has put careers of thousands of Kashmiri students in peril and sought intervention of the Union ministry on compassionate grounds to mitigate sufferings of these students and their families.
She observed that the Union ministry should take up and sort out the issues with the respective colleges and the universities wherein Kashmiri students under this prestigious scholarship scheme are either pursing their higher studies or had sought admissions.
“The students have been unnecessarily dragged in and subjected to various avoidable hardships. The MHRD must sort out the issues confronted by the students and facilitate smooth implementation of PMSSS in favour of students of Jammu and Kashmir,” Mehbooba stressed.
The PDP president urged the Union minister to impart highest priority to the issue and intervene in order to save the careers of thousands of Kashmiri students who have been disheartened for want of official help.
She remarked that the scholarship was aimed at reducing the trust-deficit among Kashmiri youth who have the talent and aspire to carve a niche for themselves in every field of life.
“However, the numerous complaints in last four years highlighting the denial of admission, disqualification of students from the scheme and nonpayment of fee have created an atmosphere of uncertainty for Kashmiri students.”
Mehbooba urged the Union minister to direct all academic institutions identified under the scholarship scheme to strictly follow the guidelines on supernumerary quota under PMSSS for Kashmiri students in a fair and transparent manner.
While assuring all possible help to Kashmiri students, the Union minister said that she will look into the complaints with regard to PMSSS, the press release said.
