BRS MLA Kamalakar hits out at Congress govt over pending overseas scholarships for students

Charges it with neglecting students from marginalised communities by halting financial assistance under Overseas Education Scholarships

Hyderabad: A heated exchange erupted in the Telangana Legislative Assembly between Minister D Anasuya alias Seethakka and BRS MLA Gangula Kamalakar over the State government’s failure to provide fresh overseas scholarships for BCs, SCs, and minority students in the last 15 months.

During Question Hour on Monday, Kamalakar charged the Congress government with neglecting students from marginalised communities by halting financial assistance under the Overseas Education Scholarships schemes.

---

“Previously, under the BRS rule, 2,230 BC students were selected for this scheme. Now, the number has dropped to zero for BCs, minorities, and STs,” he said, pointing out that the scheme, launched in 2016 during K Chandrashekhar Rao’s tenure, initially supported 300 students annually, benefiting over 6,700 students from poor families.

“In January, only 105 SC students were selected. Earlier, we implemented this scheme for 1,050 SC and ST students, 2,751 minorities, 2,123 BC students, and 780 Brahmin students. We also provided Rs 2 lakh financial aid to poor students in premier Indian institutes like IITs and IIMs, but they are getting nothing now,” he charged, demanding immediate clearance of pending dues.

Seethakka defended the government, stating that 1,110 students were selected under the scheme for the current fiscal and Rs 167 crore had been paid, including past dues.

However, Kamalakar maintained that the Congress government had failed to continue the scheme effectively and was giving misleading information, leaving many students in distress.