Srinagar, Aug 5: Valley’s apex industrial body, the Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) today hailed the approval of Special Scholarship Scheme for J&K by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).
 At a meeting of its administrative council with FCIK presided Er Zahoor Ahmad Bhat in chair, the members hailed the approval of Special Scholarship Scheme for J&K by the CCEA.
 The CCEA approved the Special Scholarship Scheme for J&K on August 4.
 Giving details of the meeting, Secretary General, FCIK, Nazir Ahmad Shikari told Greater Kashmir that the members expressed their satisfaction that the government of India has accepted all the major recommendations of the expert group on Job Plan headed by C. Rangarajan.
 Pertinently, senior FCIK member and its past president Shakeel Qalandar was one of the members of the expert group that was appointed by Prime Minister for India.
 The special scholarship scheme approved by the CCEA is for encouraging the youth of J&K to pursue higher studies outside the state.
 The total outlay of the scheme is Rs 1200 crore and 5000 fresh scholarships shall be provided every year over next five years.
 The scholarship scheme provides Rs 30,000 as tuition fee per annum for general courses, up to Rs 1.25 lakh per annum for engineering course and up to Rs 3 lakh for medical courses.
 In addition, hostel fee and incidentals will be given for all courses up to Rs 1 lakh per annum.
 Shikari said the members in the meeting appealed to the government that the scheme should be implemented in a transparent manner without any political interference so that all the deserving candidates get equal chance to avail the benefits of the scheme.
 “The government needs to constitute a high level monitoring committee for the scheme so that all the intended results and benefits of the scheme are achieved,” he said.
 “The FCIK would always be ready in providing any help needed in implementing the scheme in an effective and efficient manner,” he said.
 Meanwhile, the Federation has demanded that the scheme should be made applicable for medical and engineering colleges of J&K and other Institutes of repute within the state providing higher education in general courses.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 5 Aug 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 5 Aug 2011 18:30:00 GMT
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