HT Correspondent
JORHAT, Aug 23: A large number of students of colleges and other higher educational institutes in the district on Tuesday staged a demonstration in front of Jorhat deputy commissioner’s office complex alleging large-scale irregularities in the awarding of Ishan Uday Scholarship to students of the north-eastern region for academic year 2020-21.
The students’ protest was organised by ABVP, Jorhat district unit led by Biswajyoti Mahanta, an office-bearer of the students’ body.
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The protesters holding banners and placards shouted slogans against the University Grants Commission and Central Government seeking a high-level inquiry into the alleged irregularities in awarding the scholarships – by UGC and Union Human Resources Ministry.
They suspected a huge scam to the tune of crores of rupees had been committed by some unscrupulous elements in awarding the scholarship for 2020-21 year.
The protesters said that they had earlier sent memoranda to the State chief minister and Education minister to take up the matter with the Centre to order a proper inquiry into the charges they had levelled, but so far had not got any response in this regard.
It may be mentioned here that the Ishan Uday Scholarship was introduced by UGC and HRD Ministry for providing assistance to students of higher educational institutes of N-E region since the 2014-15 academic year.
In another protest on Monday the Jorhst district units of All India Mahila Sanskritik Sanghatan (AIMSS) and All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO) on Monday evening took out a torch light rally across the town to protest against the release of 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano gangrape and murder case — from the 2002 Gujarat riots – by the Gujarat Government recently.
The protesters, mostly women holding banners and placards, sought repeal of the Gujarat Government decision to release the convicts by granting remission.
