SC Scholarship Shock: 89-Month Delays Flagged, 6 State Chiefs Skip Summons
The Public Accounts Committee reveals shocking delays in SC scholarships and summons chief secretaries of six states who failed to appear.
In a startling revelation regarding the implementation of social welfare schemes, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has uncovered massive delays in the disbursement of scholarships to Scheduled Caste (SC) students. According to Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal, some eligible students have been left waiting for their dues for as long as 89 months, raising serious questions about the delivery of social justice in the country.
Systemic Failures in Scholarship Disbursement
The PAC conducted a detailed examination of both the Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarship schemes designed for SC students. The findings paint a grim picture of administrative negligence and systemic lapses. The audit revealed that:
- Post-Matric Dues: Students faced delays of up to 89 months.
- Pre-Matric Dues: Delays stretched up to 48 months.
- Total Neglect: In several instances, eligible beneficiaries received no payments at all.
Beyond the delays, the committee identified critical failures in the verification process. It was found that income and caste eligibility were often left unverified. This lack of oversight led to a paradoxical situation where non-SC beneficiaries received payments while the actual eligible children remained empty-handed.
Chief Secretaries Skip PAC Summons
The situation took a confrontational turn when the PAC attempted to hold officials accountable. The committee summoned the Chief Secretaries of six states identified as "poor-performing" in the implementation of these schemes to provide oral evidence.
However, none of the six Chief Secretaries appeared before the committee. KC Venugopal stated that the PAC has viewed this absence as an act of contempt. The committee intends to bring this matter to the attention of the Hon'ble Speaker to initiate action under the privilege rules.
"For a Dalit child, a scholarship decides whether the classroom stays within reach. The PAC treats the delivery of social justice as a constitutional obligation, and it will hold every State and Ministry accountable until every eligible student receives what is due to them," Venugopal asserted.
Broader Concerns and Previous Warnings
This is not the first time these issues have been raised. On September 22, Venugopal had previously highlighted three major concerns regarding Rajasthan, which included shortcomings in the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat scheme and the lack of priority given by banks to small-scale micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Among these, the 89-month delay in SC/ST scholarships was flagged as a critical point of failure.
The Public Accounts Committee, which is tasked with examining government expenditure and reports from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), continues to scrutinize whether public funds are being utilized legally and appropriately to serve the intended beneficiaries.