TV
Ahead of the 2024 General Elections, the previous BJD government had distributed a huge scholarship amount among the students in a month under the NUA-O Scholarship scheme to woo young voters in Odisha. However, with no allocation in the State Budget 2024-25, confusion prevails over the continuation of the scheme in future.
In response to BJD MLA Ranendra Pratap Swain’s question in the Assembly, Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj informed that the previous government distributed Rs 526.44 crore to a total 5, 30, 635 students of the State under the NUA-O Scholarship scheme.
As per reports, 5T Chairman VK Pandian distributed the amount to the students by making visits to different districts just before the elections. Now, the question has been raised whether the newly formed BJP government will continue the scheme with a different name or it will be stopped.
No fund has been allocated for the NUA-O scheme in the budget. Though Rs 701 crore has been allocated under Mukhya Mantri Medhabi Chhatra Protsahan Yojana in the budget, it is yet to be clear whether it is a new scheme or the name of the old scholarship scheme with a changed name. The blueprint of the new scheme is also yet to be cleared.
When asked, Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said, “The department will make it clear about the scheme later.”
On the other hand, Opposition BJD warned of stirs if the scheme is closed.
“There will be no issue with changing the name of the scheme. It was a very unique scheme for the students. If the original structure of the scheme is changed, the students across the State will hit the streets,” said BJD leader Chinmaya Sahoo.
“It was not a scholarship scheme but rather a bribe. The NUA-O scheme was actually an entertainment programme with the presence of celebrities. The new government should concentrate on the development of educational infrastructure in the State,” said Congress leader Niranjan Nayak.
Further, a question mark has been raised over the utility of the scheme. The previous BJD government had allegedly converted the scheme into election propaganda. Grants of Rs 3-9 lakh were provided in each programme to conduct sports, cultural and social competitions among the students. However, on the pretext of organising competitions, cultural extravaganzas were organised. Cinema stars were roped into the programmes to attract the students.
Moreover, classes were not taken in the colleges to organize the programmes. Pandian was visiting those programmes in choppers and interacting with the students in various colleges. The scheme amounting to Rs 315 crore got the Cabinet nod on February 22 and it was hastily implemented before the election. Later, Rs 526 crore was diverted to the scheme to distribute scholarships among the students. The previous government had no proper criteria for the beneficiaries of the scheme. As a result, more than 90 per cent of students were provided the NUA-O Scholarship amounts.
“The only motive of the NUA-O scheme was to attract the young voters. The scheme was not required at all. There is no mention of the scheme in the budget of the new government which is very much justified,” said educationist RN Panda.
