ROURKELA: School authorities managing hostels under the ST & SC Development (SSD) department are on their toes as the department is yet to release pre-matric scholarship (PMS) for nearly 6,000 scheduled caste (SC) students for February and March in Sundargarh district.
The monthly PMS amount is used to meet mess expenses, including lentils, vegetables, non-vegetarian items, edible oil, spices and fuel cost, while rice is provided to hostels free of cost.
According to sources, due to the delay in release of PMS funds, the principals have been forced to borrow funds and reallocate resources from other sources for the hostel, hoping for later reimbursement.
Over 49,000 ST and SC students from Sundargarh study in Classes I to X and stay in hostels, 6,000 of who are from SC community. While each male student is entitled to Rs 1,050 under the PMS, each female student gets Rs 1,100 per month. Besides food, the PMS amount is also used to provide soaps, hair oils and daily use items for the students.
Several principals, requesting anonymity, expressed concern over the delay, especially with the financial year ending in two days and a new month coming up. Some fear that once the financial year ends on March 31, the government may not release the pending dues at all. A headmaster said the amount provided for the SC students are insufficient to cover one breakfast, two snacks, two meals per day, and other essential items, given the inflation.
However, sources in the SSD department dismissed concerns of non-payment and said that there is no constraint in releasing PMS funds even after the financial year ends.
Sundargarh district welfare officer Bhagirathi Patel said PSM funds for the ST students is getting released timely, adding the total number of SC students in the district has been reported to the government, and the necessary funds will be disbursed soon. A source within the SSD department said that PMS funds will likely be released before or by March 31.