Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel took into account the grievance of tribal students of Bastar and Sarguja, who have not received scholarships for last two years and ordered immediate clearance of the backlog.
As a quick action on Chief Minister's instructions, Rs 51.20 lakh have been sanctioned from Bastar and Sarguja Development Authorities for providing scholarships to these students, a government communiqué said.
Member Secretary of Bastar Development Authority and Bastar Commissioner sanctioned a total 35.20 lakh for 22 girl students of 2nd and 3rd year at JNM Training. The amount has been allotted to Joint Director Health Services, Bastar Division.
Likewise, Member Secretary of Sarguja Development Authority and Commissioner Sarguja sanctioned Rs 16 lakh as scholarship for 10 tribal students of 2nd and 3rd year for JNM training in private training centres, and the amount for scholarship has been allotted to Joint Director Health Services Sarguja Division for distribution.
It is noteworthy that in 2016 under ECSPP programme of European Commission, these students from Scheduled Tribes were given admission in private nursing colleges.
But due to financial irregularities, this project was closed and the then government had stopped providing scholarships to the students, despite the fact that the European Commission had already sanctioned the funds to the then state government. The students had to face major difficulties due to the discontinuation of scholarships. Their families had to mortgage their properties to fund the training of these students.
Chief Minister Baghel has taken this problem of students seriously, and has sanctioned necessary amount from development authorities concerned as scholarships for these students.