PMSSS Fiasco: More ‘duped’ Kashmiri students face axe

Kashmiri students, studying outside the valley, under the Prime Minister Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS) continue to suffer. In the latest instance, 12 students of an engineering college in Ambala have been threatened to vacate following the failure to clear the dues.
Shivalik Group of Institute, Ambala has asked students enrolled in B.Tech (LEET) and regular from last two years to make the payment or quit the course.
“Our exams are coming in June. We are not able to concentrate and suffer from mental stress as authorities are pressurizing us to pay the fee,” a student told us requesting anonymity.
Narrating their ordeal, he added: “We were sent here by an NGO which has been telling us that the funds would reach the college soon but we feel cheated from all ends. We have not received any funds and neither is the government responding to our problems.”
The panicky students said they are not able to concentrate on their studies since the college authorities have warned them that they won’t be allowed to sit in the upcoming examination.
“Every day, the authorities create problems for us,” said another student.
Relatives of these students also expressed concern over the situation requesting the state government to intervene and save the career of their wards.
“This scholarship was given to us considering our low family income. There is no other way that we can pay the fee. Either the funds should be given to us or we have to quit. They have put us in the waiting list with our issue not getting solved,” the students complained.
Director of Shivalik Group of Institute, S K Sharma said: “We have been cooperating with students from last two years but it is unfortunate that no payment has been made so far.”
He denied threatening to expel the students but said the authorities will look into the matter. “We have given them options to take loan and pay in installments,” Sharma said.
Last month, MoS Education, Priya Sethi said the government would take up the matter with the Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD) but till now it has failed to sort out the issues confronted by the students and facilitate smooth implementation of the scholarship scheme.