BRS MLA T Harish Rao Criticizes Telangana Government Over Unpaid BC Scholarships
T Harish Rao, MLA from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), condemned the Telangana government on Tuesday for its alleged failure to disburse the Jyotibha Phule BC Overseas Scholarships to Backward Class (BC) students. Speaking at a press conference, Rao questioned why the Congress-led government had not released funds for 65 students who qualified for financial assistance under the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule BC Overseas Education Fund Scheme, which was initiated during the BRS administration.
Rao expressed concerns that the government might be considering scrapping this scholarship program, which was designed to support economically disadvantaged students in pursuing higher education abroad. He criticized the Congress government, stating that while “renaming places” is easy, fulfilling promises made to the public is a challenging task. He specifically referenced the BC declaration made in Kamareddy district and questioned the government’s commitment to implementing the BC sub-plan announced during the first assembly meeting.
In light of the unpaid scholarships, former Member of Parliament and BC leader R Krishnaiah announced plans for a protest outside the Mandal Revenue Office on October 22. He highlighted the urgent need for the scholarship amount to be increased from Rs 5,500 to Rs 10,000, pointing out that the state government has ignored protests for the past four months seeking this increase. Krishnaiah emphasized that many students, despite securing seats in higher education, are unable to continue their studies due to financial constraints.
“Some students who have jobs are facing difficulties in submitting their certificates. Many are struggling to cover their expenses, and it is essential for the government to release the budget in two phases soon,” Krishnaiah stated.
In a related matter, the Telangana Private Degree & PG Colleges Management Association has sought Krishnaiah’s assistance in securing overdue fees from the government, as college managements explained their challenges in paying teacher salaries and rent due to the lack of funding.
