The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked for an action taken report from the Employment and Technical Education and Training Department (ET and T) Director on the allegation of misappropriation of Rs 3.90 crore scholarship funds.
Taking cognisance of a case filed by Human Rights Watch secretary Sangita Swain, the NHRC asked the (ET and T) authorities to submit a report within eight weeks.
Swain had alleged that till date Rs 3.90 crore has been misappropriated by the public authority in the name of 304 gullible students on the head of scholarship as revealed from the audit. She further stated in the complaint that the victims are now forced to do signatures in different illegal documents and return the amount which has not been received by them. This is a violation of human rights due to inaction, unlawful action and abetment by the department authorities.
The petitioner prayed NHRC to take criminal, disciplinary proceeding against the concerned authority, to pay compensation of Rs1 lakh each to the victims and take immediate steps to prevent their mental tension and harassment.