86% of Tripura's Tribal Students receive Scholarships amid delays; Authorities extend deadlines

Agartala, Oct 27, 2024, By Our Correspondent

In response to recent concerns over delays in scholarship disbursement for tribal students, Brijesh Pandey, Secretary of the Tripura Janajati Welfare Department, announced that 86 percent of the state’s 35,665 eligible tribal students have received scholarships. At a press conference, Pandey disclosed that Rs 56.4 crore has been disbursed to 30,602 students, with efforts ongoing to reach the remaining students.
Pandey provided an update on the progress, noting that by June 2024, Rs 13.7 crore had been allocated to 21,272 students, covering 55 percent of eligible recipients. Following a delay, disbursements resumed on September 20 after the Ministry of Tribal Affairs released funds on September 6. According to Pandey, the remaining 14 percent, or 4,966 students, face delays primarily due to incomplete verification of Aadhaar-linked bank accounts.
To facilitate timely scholarship distribution, the department extended the verification deadline, allowing affected students additional time to complete the necessary linkage. As of now, 1,468 students have met verification requirements and are expected to receive funds next week. For 988 students who missed this extended deadline, a 15-day window has been offered. However, 2,510 students remain affected due to discrepancies in their documentation.
Pandey encouraged all students to complete pending verification processes to ensure smooth disbursement, reaffirming the department's commitment to fulfilling scholarship obligations for all eligible tribal students.