Social justice department vows action in scholarship scam

Gujarat’s department of social justice and empowerment will take action in cases where private universities have siphoned crores in scholarships meant for impoverished students from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes.

As Gujarat Samachar reported on June 7, these universities face allegations of funnelling funds from the Scholarship and Fee Reimbursement Scheme into their own coffers, after trading applicants’ personal data for a paltry ₹10,000 and the promise of a degree.

In response, Sunaina Tomar, additional chief Secretary, department of social justice and empowerment promised action against the guilty. 

“We have received information on the issue. If there is any truth to the matter, the department will take action against all those involved,” she said. 

As detailed previously, “agents” of private universities allegedly pay students ₹10,000 and have them sign a consent letter, with the promise of getting them admission. Instead, they collect the students’ private data and use it to activate new SIM cards and open bank accounts. The scholarship meant for the students is then funnelled into these new bank accounts, held and operated by the agents, a student told Gujarat Samachar on condition of anonymity. Students are told they have been admitted to a programme, but do not attend classes or sit for any exams. 

Persons close to the issue have also alleged that one private university has enrolled as many as 300 scholarship students who are being systematically looted. 

When first contacted on this issue, an official of the social justice and empowerment told Gujarat Samachar: “We perform random checking of such admissions and scholarships at the district level but have not heard of any such issues so far. If this continues, we will implement a biometric attendance system from next year, to ensure the problem does not persist.”