Explain benefits of scholarship programme to students: Panel

A Parliamentary panel has suggested that the government explain the benefits scholarship programme to students especially from the Northeast region in view of "inadequate" demand from them.
Noting that the budget allocated to the NE region could not be fully utilised due to lack of demand, it urged the Minority Affairs Ministry to "explain the benefits of the scheme so as to generate demand".
The recommendation of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment came after the Ministry informed it that the budget allocated to the region could not be fully utilised.
The Ministry, on the other hand, has informed the committee that as per its advice, the states have been requested to submit their project proposals under the multi-sectoral development programmes for minorities before June 15 this year.

In its recommendation, the committee had desired that the states send their proposals well in advance in the first quarter of the financial year itself so that evaluation and examination of the same can be done timely and funds released by the second quarter.
The multi-sectoral development programme is a centrally sponsored scheme launched in 2008-09 in the minority concentrated districts.