Srinagar, July 8: Professional colleges and universities in India are on a ‘mission’ to attract students from Jammu and Kashmir for admissions under a special scholarship programme of the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).
 A non-governmental organization named ‘Peoples Forum’ has launched a drive to promote the Ministry’s special scholarship scheme for J&K “to bring some educational institutions face to face with local students.”
 “We want to ensure that more and more youngsters from J&K know about the scholarship scheme and the higher and professional education opportunities they have at known education hubs like Pune and Noida,” Convener of the Peoples Forum, Ali Imtiyaz told Greater Kashmir.
 Founder Director of Apex Group of Institutes Pune, Prof Sheikh Sultan, who is on a visit to Valley to “spread the message about the scholarships” for JK youth, said the drive would promote awareness about the scheme among the J&K youth. “We will also approach academic institutions in other states to contribute to the cause [of admitting JK students],” Sultan said. “The scholarship programme is a good opportunity for bright but economically disadvantaged students to take a leap in their career.”
 Besides the Apex Group, IIMT College, Sharda University, Pune University, Swami Vivekananda Subharti University, Samalkha Group of Institutes and Skyline Institute of Technology are taking part in the counseling session to attract students. 
 While representatives of various government and private institutes in India are presently in Kashmir to hold counseling sessions, the students are wary about the formalities laid down by them.
 “Some colleges are asking for affidavits and security deposits ranging from Rs 20, 000 to 30, 000 before granting admissions,” said Tawseef Ahmad, an aspirant. “Though it is refundable but we cannot afford such a huge amount. Something needs to be done about it.”
 However, the administrative officers of these colleges say they would make thing easy for students by writing a bond. “We are committed for providing education to the students but we are governed by certain rules and regulations. We assure the students that everything would be clarified to them once the written bond is signed,” Er Jitendar Kumar, Director Diksha Group of Instututes said. “Students will not be kept in dark about the admission process or scheme. It is a fully transparent process.”
 Pertinently an expert group, constituted by the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in August 2010 to recommend steps for enhancing employment opportunities in J&K and formulate jobs plan, had suggested in its report that 5,000 fresh scholarships be offered each year to J&K students for pursuing higher and professional studies outside J&K.
 Acting on the same, the HRD ministry introduced the special scholarship scheme for J&K 2011-12 for Class XII pass out students from J&K—belonging to families with less than Rs 4.5 lakh annual income. The interlocutors, appointed by Centre, have also recommended the scheme for the JK students.
 A total of 5,000 special scholarships would be offered each year over the next five years, starting 2011-12.
 The scheme envisages tuition fees, hostel fees, cost of books and other incidental charges for the eligible students. For instance, tuition fees up to Rs 30,000 per annum for general degree courses or up to Rs 1.25 lakh per annum for engineering courses and up to Rs 3 lakh for medical and dental courses are reimbursed by the Ministry. In addition, the scheme provides for hostel fees and incidentals with a ceiling of Rs 1 lakh per annum for all categories of courses.
 Imtiyaz said: “The scheme, which will move into the second year in 2012-13 academic term, has yet to generate the kind of response anticipated from the J&K youth. Similarly, institutions located at known education hubs like Pune, are largely unaware about the scheme and its benefits in terms of bringing J&K youth to the national mainstream through various efforts.”
 “Our drive will focus on these issues and we will promote awareness about the scheme not only among the J&K youth but will also approach academic institutions in other parts of the country asking them to contribute to the cause,” he said.
 The HRD ministry has posted a detailed set of guidelines for the operation on the special scholarship scheme for J&K on its website: www.edu.nic.in.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 8 Jul 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 8 Jul 2012 18:30:00 GMT
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