Hyderabad, November 07: The state government is all set to crack the whip on nearly 3,000 non-existing colleges which claimed crores of rupees under the fee reimbursement and scholarship scheme fraudulently. Chief minister K Rosaiah today directed the officials to identify these colleges and recover the amounts claimed by them.
The government has also decided to initiate criminal action against people who are involved in floating these colleges.
It may recalled that the state government has invited applications from all the recognised colleges for online registration to become eligible to claim fee under the fee reimbursement and scholarship scheme commencing from the current academic year. As against 12,000 colleges which claimed post matric scholarships and fee reimbursement during last year, only 9,000 colleges registered themselves with the government through internet. Observing that nearly 3,000 colleges did not register their names, the officials came to a conclusion that they are non-existent but getting benefited from the scheme fraudulently.
Speaking to reporters here today, BC welfare minister M Mukesh Goud said that none of the fraudsters will be allowed to escape with the scam and the officials have already started digging into the files to recognise the people behind the scam which runs into crores of rupees. “We are yet to ascertain the amount which was swindled off by these bogus colleges. If required, the government will bring out an ordinance to recover entire amount claimed by these colleges,” he said. He said that the government also has cleared all arrears under the scheme. In all, Rs 1,353.39 crore was paid to all the colleges to clear pending arrears under the scheme towards fee reimbursement and scholarships for BC and EBC students.
About 15 lakh BC and EBC students enrolled for fee reimbursement and scholarships for the current academic year. Rosaiah responded positively to the requests for allocation of an estimated Rs 2,012.12 crore for payment of fee under the fee reimbursement and scholarships programme for BC and EBC students.
The authorities have also requested for sanctioning of Rs 40 crore towards maintenance of BC Welfare hostels for boys and girls apart from another Rs 20 crore to provide essential materials to these hostels.
–Agencies