By TC News Desk
Agartala, August 23: Tribal Welfare department is making verbal commitments repeatedly for providing stipends for the past one year despite of giving deputation for four consecutive times by the Tribal Students Union, said TSU’s general secretary Sujit Tripura today.
Speaking to media persons in front of the Directorate of Tribal Welfare department, Gurkhabasti here on Wednesday noon, Sujit said “We have given deputation for four times till today and every time, the Tribal Welfare department’s Director is assuring us that the stipend will be credited by today or tomorrow. But in reality, till now, students are deprived for the past one year.”
“The ST students i.e. the ‘Tiprasa’ who are pursuing their professional degree courses with the help of stipends. Already a year passed off and form fill-up procedure to start soon, but till now, not a single penny has been disbursed whereas, the department is accused of threatening students of NIT, Agartala to refund extra stipend disbursed in their accounts. If they fail to do so then they will not be allowed to complete their respective degrees”, he added.
“Hence, we have been compelled to stage sit-in-demonstration in front of the Directorate of Tribal Welfare. Why such delay in disbursement of stipends for ST students are being made? In this month itself, we have given three deputations. The Tribal Welfare department officials are claiming that the stipends will be credited in a week’s time. But till now, no proper step has been initiated for the welfare of ST students. Rather, those students pursing higher education in NIT, Agartala are being threatened to repay their stipends or else they will face dire consequences. Although, it’s displayed that Tribal Welfare, but what kind of development is taking place! Having a degrading outlook, welfare board is being hung here.”
Secretary said that unless and until the Tribal Welfare Department’s Director is not ensuring that the stipends will be disbursed within August, they will not withdraw the sit-in-demonstration. “Over 500 students have contacted with us, but no step has been initiated by the Tribal Welfare department”, he also added.
