Technical institutes in UP involved in scholarship fraud

Times of India: Meerut: Tuesday, April 29, 2014.

An RTI query has revealed that some technical institutes in the state are allegedly involved in fraudulently granting scholarships worth lakhs of rupees under the Uttar Pradesh General Category Scholarship Scheme, a state-funded scheme meant for students belonging to Uttar Pradesh, to students from other states on the basis of false certificates.

The query, filed by Puneet Sharma, chairman, Right to Information Task Force, found that in these institutes, students of other states were allegedly shown as residents of Uttar Pradesh and were granted scholarships on that basis.

According to a 2012 government order, the purpose of Uttar Pradesh General Category Scholarship Scheme is to provide financial assistance to poor students of general category in the state. In order to avail benefit under this scheme, a student has to be a resident of Uttar Pradesh.

In one instance, seven students of Bansal Institute of Engineering and Technology, all of whom belong to other states, allegedly used false documents to avail the scholarship. Vinod Bansal, director of Bansal Institute of Engineering and Technology denied his institute was involved in any wrongdoing.

It is uncertain how the students acquired the false certificates as documents pass through many levels, including Tehsildar, SDM and District Magistrate, before approval is granted. The District Magistrate was unavailable to comment on the matter.