Vijayapura: Admitting that the government has not cleared the scholarship amount of the students of backward classes owing to tough financial conditions, Minister for Muzarai and Backward Classes Welfare Minister, Kota Srinivas Pujari has said that some Rs. 400 crore required to clear all applications of scholarship.
Addressing presspersons after holding a review meeting with the officials on Thursday, he however assured that the funds would be released as early as possible.
“ I am in touch with the Finance Officials regarding the matter. We will try to clear the entire amount shortly to help the students”, he said.
The Minister said that over 37 lakh students of backward classes are eligible for different scholarship schemes in the State.
Claiming that Rs. 30 crore was to be given to Ph.D. students itself, he said that while Rs. 10 crore already released, remaining would be released within a month.
In regard to the demand of outsourced workers serving in hostels that are demanding salary to be given even during lockdown period, Pujari made it clear that the Finance Department is against the paying of the salary of that duration.
“ The demand also came to us, but when we took up this matter to the Finance Department, the officials said that due to tight financial conditions, they are unable to pay the salary of the lockdown period. However, the salary of the days when the staff worked, will be considered and be paid”, he said.
Claiming that the priority of the department is to provide good hostel facilities to the students, he said that the State has around 2400 hostels where over 2 lakh students are residing.
“ We wish to provide quality hostels with facilities such as water, electricity, sanitation, and good food. I have directed the officials to take action to repair the hostels if they are not in good condition”, he said.
On the allegations that several hostels have been occupied by some outsiders illegally and they stay there, the Minister said that he has directed the officials to take action against such illegal occupants.
With regard to the ambitious ‘Saptapadi’ scheme of the government where weddings of poor people are conducted in the temples, he said that the program has been resumed.
He said that because of the Covid, the program was stopped, but it has been resumed where the couple is given Rs. 40,000 worth Mangal Sutra and financial aid to the couple.
“ We are getting several applications, and we hope, this time we will conduct at least 6,000 weddings in the temples that come under the Muzarai department”, he said.
MLAs, A. S. Patil Nadahalli, Devanand Chavan and DC, Sunil Kumar were present.
Photo Courtesy: Firoz Rozindar
