Bhubaneswar: Protesting against cutting down of the Central share in Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Saturday staged a demonstration in front of the Raj Bhawan here.
BJD leaders, including finance minister Sashibhusan Behera, Pramlila Mallick, Padmanav Behera and Lal Bihari Himirika participated in the dharna.
Behera said the future of about two lakh scheduled caste (SC) students in the state now hangs fire as the Centre has cut down its share under the scholarship scheme by over 70 per cent putting an extra financial burden on the state.
“We are opposing such anti-SC move of the Union government. The Centre should immediately revise its guidelines to revert to the previous sharing pattern,” he added.
Later, a BJD delegation presented a memorandum to Governor Ganeshi Lal addressed to the President of India in this regard.
In its memorandum, the BJD said the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme is a centrally sponsored scheme, wherein until 2016-17, the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment was providing about 90 per cent of the amount, while the state government was bearing the remaining 10 per cent of the actual expenditure.
“It is a matter of concern that from 2017-18 onwards, the Ministry has revised the liability of the state government towards post- matric scholarship, wherein the state government has to bear more than 80 per cent of the total expenditure,” read the memo.
Stating such an abrupt change in the funding pattern has given a severe jolt to the scholarship programme for SC students, the party sought personal intervention of the President of India in the matter and requested to direct the Centre to reconsider the matter and restore the funding pattern of 90:10.
However, state BJP spokesperson Golok Mohapatra said the Centre is providing funds to the state government as per committed liability. The Centre had provided Rs 198 crore in 2016-17 while Rs 170 crore has been provided during this financial year, he said.
“As election is nearing, the BJD is making such false allegations against the Centre to hide its incapability and inefficiency,” he alleged.