Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh — Charpo Taffo Sonam, a leading student activist, has publicly criticized the state government’s decision to transfer the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme back to the Social Justice, Empowerment, and Tribal Affairs (SJETA) Department. The scheme, which was originally managed by SJETA, had been reassigned to the Department of Education following allegations of mismanagement during the 2016-17 academic year.
In a recent press conference, Sonam expressed his dissatisfaction with the government’s move, which mandates the return of all related files, beneficiary data, and unspent funds to SJETA for the 2024-25 academic year. The decision was made to ensure “smooth implementation,” according to the government notification.
Sonam questioned the rationale behind reverting the management to SJETA, citing past failures in efficiently handling the scholarship scheme. He highlighted concerns over the department’s ability to manage the funds and ensure proper distribution. The student leader announced plans to formally address these concerns with the Chief Minister and the Department of Education, seeking public support to oppose the transfer.
Sonam’s criticism underscores ongoing issues related to scholarship management and calls for a more permanent solution to ensure effective administration of the scheme.