Insaaf Times Desk

The All India Students Association (AISA) held a press conference at DSP MU, Jacob Hall in Ranchi to highlight the long-pending scholarship issues. AISA stated that due to the delay in the disbursal of the e-Kalyan Scholarship, students from economically weaker sections of the state are being deprived of education.

Addressing the press, AISA Jharkhand State President Vibha Pushpa Deep said that the impact is most severe on SC, ST, BC, and female students. She warned that students of the 2024–25 session, who are enrolled in regular courses as well as self-financed programs such as commerce, management, engineering, and medical, are being forced either to discontinue their studies or take loans to continue their education.

Vibha Pushpa Deep added, “The state government has released its share of the scholarship, but the central government’s contribution is still pending. The government seems focused on creating cheap labor in Jharkhand, while students’ education is being disrupted. Both the central and state governments must resolve this issue immediately.”

AISA State Vice President Vijay Kumar informed that the central government has allocated ₹4,500 crore and the Jharkhand government has set aside ₹1,62,79,000 for OBC students. Despite this, only 1,454 students in Ranchi district have benefited, compared to nearly 60,000 in the previous session. He also reiterated AISA’s demand to increase the education budget and dedicate at least 10% of it to the education sector.

DSP MU Secretary Anurag Roy stated that the non-disbursement of scholarships is pushing higher education in Jharkhand into a deeper crisis. Meanwhile, AISA Jharkhand State Joint Secretary Mohammad Sami warned that if the scholarship funds are not released soon, AISA will move towards an intense agitation.

Ranchi district secretaries Sanjana Mehta, Vivek Kumar, Poonam Kumari, Anupam Mahto, and Rahul Mahto were also present at the press conference.