No cash yet for merit students

Students chosen for the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) say that they have not received any money for the past three to four years.

They are supposed to receive `6,000 every year until they reach Intermediate.

The scholarship was launched in May 2008 by the Union ministry of human resource development for meritorious students from economically weaker sections.

The beneficiaries are selected through an examination conducted by the state government. The scholarships are supposed to be disbursed every three months to the bank accounts of students by the State Bank of India.

The Centre selects one lakh students for the scholarships. They receive `6,000 a year from Class 9 to Class 12, a maximum of four years. Each state has a fixed quota of students to receive the scholarships, and conducts its own test.

Mr Bathula Sankar Rao, a school assistant at a government school, told this newspaper, “I encourage students to attempt this exam and take extra classes. But what is the use of qualifying when the students are not receiving any help?”

Mr Mohan Rao, the nodal officer of the scheme in the state, said that the office has received many complaints from students regarding non-payment of the amount.

“We have directed them to contact the Union HRD ministry. Many students don’t receive the scholarship because they don’t follow the guidelines while applying. Some are denied the scholarship because they apply multiple times, and others because they apply for other scholarships.”