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| Scholarship Scam | | | The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) recently uncovered a massive scam involving misappropriation of crores of rupees meant for the post-matric scholarship scheme for Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in Jammu. Earlier a similar scandal was detected in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
The unearthing of a massive scam involving the misappropriation of crores of rupees allocated under the post-matric scholarship scheme is both a criminal breach of duty and a moral outrage. What makes this scam particularly reprehensible is the target: some of the most marginalized and underprivileged youth in the region, who rely on such schemes for their basic right to education and a better future.
The investigations conducted by the ACB revealed that between 2014 and 2018, officials, including the then Director of Tribal Affairs, in connivance with private computer institutes, allegedly siphoned off funds by enrolling fake students, submitting forged documents, and disbursing government money to unaccredited and unauthorized institutions.
This is not an isolated incident. A similar scam was earlier detected in Baramulla district where Rs 27 lakh meant for tribal students was allegedly embezzled by senior education officials.
The modus operandi remains chillingly similar: create ghost beneficiaries, fake enrollments, unapproved courses, and pocket the money. The very purpose of the post-matric scholarship scheme—which was to empower ST students through financial aid for higher education—was trampled underfoot by greed and systemic rot.
Such blatant corruption continuing unabated for four years has raised many questions. How could funds be disbursed without verifying institutional credentials or student enrollments? Why were the eligibility checks and cross-verification protocols so lax, if not altogether absent?
This scandal underscores the urgent need for systemic reforms like strict verification mechanisms, ensuring that only accredited institutes receive aid, and every beneficiary is authenticated through Aadhaar-linked and biometric systems.
Equally critical is the need for awareness among ST communities about their entitlements. Greater transparency through digital dashboards, real-time tracking of scholarship disbursals, and grievance redressal mechanisms will go a long way in restoring faith.
This is a betrayal not just of public money but of the hopes and dreams of hundreds of deserving students. It is imperative that this investigation sets an example—an unambiguous message that crimes against the poor and vulnerable, particularly in the name of education, will not be tolerated. Accountability must be the cornerstone of governance. |
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