Nagaland’s Department of Higher Education has announced that starting from the academic year 2024-25, the Post Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Tribe (ST) students will be disbursed as a one-time payment. This shift from the current system of multiple instalments throughout the year aims to streamline the process and ensure timely financial support for students.
Minister for Higher Education and Tourism, Temjen Imna Along, revealed the decision during a press conference, explaining that the existing system of two instalments has faced delays due to various administrative challenges, including the Model Code of Conduct during elections. In the 2023-24 academic year, the first instalment of ₹17.81 crore was disbursed to 42,817 students, albeit with some delays attributed to the election period.
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The total amount required for the scholarship distribution in 2023-24 was ₹53.11 crore, with contributions from the central government (₹16.03 crore) and the state government (₹1.78 crore). The second instalment, amounting to ₹35.29 crore, is still pending. Minister Along emphasised that the state government has consistently been prompt in releasing its share of the funds.
The transition to a one-time payment system is expected to simplify the administrative process and ensure that students receive their funds more efficiently. This change will provide timely financial support to students, enabling them to manage their educational expenses more effectively.
Moreover, the new system will reduce the administrative burden associated with processing multiple payments and handling related issues such as bounced transactions and document verification delays.
From the next academic year, the Post Matric Scholarship will also be integrated with the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) to prevent duplication and double applications, ensuring a more streamlined and transparent process.
The Department of Higher Education has reiterated its commitment to transparent and discrepancy-free scholarship disbursement, a practice it has maintained since 2018.
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In addition to the Post Matric Scholarship, the state government provides merit and research scholarships, which are entirely state-funded. For the 2023-24 academic year, ₹6-7 crore has been allocated for these scholarships, benefiting 4,330 merit students and 94 research scholars. An additional amount of ₹156.38 lakh has been sought to meet the total required amount of ₹656.38 lakh for these scholarships.
Minister Along acknowledged the grievances and needs of the students, assuring them that the department and the government are committed to ensuring that students receive the best benefits in time. He requested the students to be patient and persevere as the department works to address any delays and issues in the scholarship disbursement process.
The Department of Higher Education has been proactive in addressing complaints of delays in previous years, often attributed to external factors such as the Model Code of Conduct during elections. Since June 13, 2024, the department has been transferring the scholarship amount to at least 4,000-5,000 beneficiaries on a daily basis.
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The integration with the NSP and the shift to a one-time payment system reflect the Department of Higher Education’s commitment to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the scholarship programme. By providing the full amount at the beginning of the academic year, the new system aims to better support students in managing their educational expenses and reduce administrative challenges.
The shift to a one-time payment system for the Post Matric Scholarship for ST students in Nagaland from the academic year 2024-25 is a significant step towards improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the scholarship programme.
