Probe on in post-matric scholarship irregularities: Nitish Kumar

The CM said that a vigilance probe was already on into the irregularities & action would be taken against those responsible

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday said a vigilance probe was on in irregularities in post-matriculation scholarship to SC/ST students of Bihar and necessary action will be taken against those involved in it.

"Complaints have been received and shortcomings found in post-matriculation scholarship to SC/ST students of Bihar ... Prima facie there appears to be certain lapses," Kumar said in the legislative assembly while intervening on a question by the Leader of Opposition (LoP) during Zero Hour.

He said a vigilance probe was already on into the irregularities and action would be taken against those responsible.

The responsibility will be fixed after taking into account both administrative and criminal aspects in the irregularities, Kumar said.

Large scale irregularities have come into light with payment of scholarship money to SC/ST students pursuing technical education outside Bihar being delayed and jeopardising their future.

The post-matriculation scholarship to the SC/ST students is given by the SC/ST Welfare Department.

BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi made an expose late last year about irregularities in the scholarships given to SC/ST students to pursue technical or other higher education in and outside Bihar.

He had charged the state government with releasing scholarship amounts to fictitious technical institutions outside Bihar, besides delay in money to a technical institute in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, to fund studies of 60 students from Bihar.