Mizoram: Students Stage Protest Demand Disbursement Of Scholarship Money

MZP leading the protest, announced plans to escalate their agitation starting Thursday, intending to block scholarship board officials' entry into the office.

Students stage protest, demand disbursement of scholarship money. (Representational Image)

Source : Getty

Aizawl: For the second consecutive day, hundreds of students in Mizoram continued their demonstration on Wednesday, urging for the prompt distribution of scholarship funds to more than 19,000 students. Organized by the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), the protesting students have been staging a sit-in outside the Mizoram Scholarship Board office at Dawrpui Vengthar in Aizawl's western region. Their demand remains the immediate disbursement of scholarship funds to 19,495 students, both studying within and outside the state, as reported by PTI.

The Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), leading the protest, announced plans to escalate their agitation starting Thursday, intending to block scholarship board officials' entry into the office.

President H Lalthianghlima of MZP alleged that the delay in scholarship disbursement stemmed from officials neglecting their responsibilities.

Asserting that the Mizoram government received Rs 17.87 crore from the Centre on September 25 for scholarships, he claimed that officials failed to appropriately allocate these funds to students.

The student body leaders met with Chief Electoral Officer Madhup Vyas on Tuesday, addressing a letter to the Election Commission, urgently requesting scholarship fund disbursement.

Due to the November 7 assembly polls in Mizoram and subsequent imposition of the model code of conduct, the board stated the need for Election Commission permission before proceeding. Vote counting is scheduled for December 3.

MZP leaders also reportedly met state Chief Secretary Renu Sharma on Wednesday, highlighting the difficulties faced by students.

Protest Breaks Out At Uttarakhand Tunnel Collapse Site

At the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse site, a protest erupted among workers chanting 'hamara aadmi nikalo' [take out our people], intensifying as rescue efforts reached Day 4 in the mission to save 40 trapped workers. Clash arose between workers and rescue officials as the former demanded immediate extraction of their colleagues from the debris.

Despite officials' assurances of the 40 workers' safety and provision of essentials and oxygen, agitated protestors voiced their frustration regarding the delayed rescue efforts. Their agitation stemmed from the absence of an alternative plan when the machines tasked with drilling the rubble and creating an escape route failed to function on Tuesday evening.