Pre matric scholarship for minority community The scheme is ushered in with great fanfare. It looks very attractive, but 6 page form and the requirement are cumbersome for illiterate parents, Some schools even refuse to attest the documents of their own students. It is work for them , which benefits their own students, The form calls for mindless percentage and total marks, when grades are in vogue
Most of the migrants residing for over 20 years plus have no Ration cards the Landlord does not have house number for the rented premises. It suits them not to pay the Panchayat fees for renting the premises The affidavit in lieu of Ration card costs Rs120 plus Rs 80= for Notarisation. It is common knowledge that Ration card are available for Rs 8000= to Rs 10.000 per card. Similarly another Rs 200/ is the cost for obtaining affidavit vouching for Minority status, The cost of Panchayat for income certificate ranges from Rs 20 to Rs50= besides frequent visits and absence of Secretary One can imagine the time, costs, photo copies etc to get ultimately Rs 1000= at Rs 100/ per month for 10 months ,after spending half the amount due Is it a clever ploy to fuel sale of stamp papers and enrich and shore the coffers of the bankrupt state finances. It is also providing revenue for typing establishment and much needed income for the Panchayats. Imagine Panchayat charging Rs 100= for getting new house number already existing in the records of the Panchayat, but not communicated to the owner. The Notaries are smiling at the unexpected windfall with people standing patiently in long queues The Notaries issue no receipt as needed without request and there is no uniformity on their fees .Many of the appointed Notaries are practicing lawyers and are not available during court hours The form should have been simple, less elaborate on requirements of income certificate, affidavits, etc. it is not a minority friendly scheme, but a propaganda scheme to boost the image of present Govt to show that it is responsive and cares The OBC, EBC, girl child schemes provide much more relief but do not capitalise on publicity agenda Nelson Lopes Chinchinim
