Why delay in finding solution to scholarship issue?

By Vikas Vaidya

Registering strong objection over the delay in finding out solution to scholarship issue, Bombay High Court on Monday warned Government not to think about Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme till it comes up with proper plan.
A division bench consisting of Justice Bhushan Gavai and Justice Bharti Dangre while hearing a bunch of petitions filed by educational institutions questioning the recent directive to deposit entire amount in students’ bank account heard the side of Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhkoni wherein he told High Court that Government could not stop DBT scheme. The High Court immediately questioned him who would be held responsible if students fail to transfer the tuition fee amount in the accounts of colleges? Court further reminded Advocate General that it had instructed Government to come up with solution by convening a meeting under Chief Secretary and it was not done.
Advocate General finally assured court that he would instruct Chief Secretary to find out the proper solution on this issue. In its last order High Court had asked
Chief Secretary to take the lead by convening a meeting of Principal Secretaries and other Secretaries from the concerned department.  It had directed Government to put in place a proper and rational mechanism to ensure that tuition fees go to colleges while examination fees and maintenance allowance remains with students. Till then, the authorities should not deposit any scholarship money into students’ accounts under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme.
The recently framed scheme envisaged that entire money is credited into students account. They in turn were expected to pay tuition fees to colleges. However, in majority of cases, the students simply withdrew money and refused to deposit with colleges, leaving educational institutions in a lurch. The process of DBT was delayed by one full year as a result, entire educational sector has been forced to go through existential crisis. However, some 30 per cent students, sincerely deposited their tuition fees with their college. Interestingly, a large number of beneficiary students simply denied that that have received the scholarship amount, putting colleges in a tight spot. The zero balance issue added to complications.
The State Government cannot be permitted to put the institutions in a difficult situation on account of its policies or because of erroneous implementation, the High Court tersely observed while putting Government on notice and seeking a rational solution within stipulated time.
Some days ago Division Bench of Justice Bhushan Gavai and Justice B P Colabawala had delivered the judgment through which it had empowered colleges to cancel the admission of students if they don’t transfer the money in the accounts of colleges.
High Court is continuously hammering Government on this issue. In March in a case filed by Sinhgarh colleges High Court had asked Government to deposit Rs 117 crore which was due since long.
It is ridiculous that latest GR by Department of Social Justice clearly says that the responsibility of recovering the scholarship amount from the students purely lies on the colleges.
Earlier colleges used to get the tuition fee amount of students against the scholarship in their accounts. As per the GR of 2008, the colleges were supposed to receive 90% of the reimbursement of fees to be paid by the Government for reserved category students, by the first month of the academic session. That never took place. But the problem was never so bad like it is now.