Our Correspondent
Kohima | June 3
Nagaland Minister for Higher & Technical Education, Temjen Imna Along today said that “henceforth there will be no discrepancies in scholarship issue of technical students.”
The Minister lamented that the All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) had gone a little too far in demanding the resignation of Arjun Singh from the post of Director of Technical Education for allegedly not revealing the names of those involved in misappropriation of scholarship fund meant for students which was brought out in the 2018 report of the Comptroller Auditor General of India, Nagaland.
“We respect the letter and RTI filed by the ANCSU and to the best of the knowledge of the department it was replied,” Along said in a press conference here today.
The Minister said that following the report of the CAG, the matter was initially taken over by the State Vigilance Commission but with the constitution of the Lokayukta in February this year, the issue is being investigated by them.
It may be mentioned here that ANCSU had charged the Directorate of Technical Education of diverting more than Rs 1.6 crore scholarship amount and sought the names of those involved in it.
Along clarified that the said amount was the scholarship for technical students of the state and not meant for general category scholarships.
The Minister also pointed out that the present officials in the department along with himself were not aware of the fund diversion as the CAG report was based on the findings from 2014-2016.
Maintaining that the final verdict of the Lokayukta is yet to be brought out, the Minister assured that the government will initiate action against those proved guilty and also implement its recommendations.
Further, he requested the ANCSU to put the matter to rest till the Lokayukta delivers the final verdict on the matter.
