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Tejas Navale

Pune: Many students who excelled in their class 10th and 12th examinations are facing disappointment as they await the scholarship money promised by the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). Despite the academic year coming to an end, the delay in disbursing these scholarships has led to frustration among students and parents alike.

Under the social development department of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, various welfare schemes are implemented to support women, children, the disabled, and students in the city. Among these initiatives, special recognition and cash scholarships are awarded to meritorious students in grades 10 and 12.

In the academic year 2022–23, it was anticipated that cash scholarships would be provided to deserving students who had passed their 10th and 12th exams with flying colours. However, more than a year has elapsed since the announcement, leaving many students in financial distress due to the delayed disbursement of funds.

The delay in providing cash scholarships to meritorious students has exacerbated their financial hardships, especially considering the challenging economic circumstances faced by many families. The timely distribution of these scholarships is crucial to alleviating the difficulties faced by these bright young minds.

Expressing their discontent, many stakeholders have highlighted the importance of adhering to a predetermined timeline for awarding scholarships immediately after exam results are declared. However, it appears that such concerns have fallen on deaf ears within the municipal administration.

Aniket Satpute, Clerk of the Social Development Department, shed light on the challenges faced in distributing the prize money, citing the constraints imposed by the Model Code of Conduct. However, he assured that once the code of conduct is lifted, the scholarship funds will be promptly deposited into the students' accounts.

The nature of the scholarship scheme includes cash rewards of Rs 10,000 for students securing 80 to 90 percent marks in class 10 and Rs 15,000 for those achieving above 90 percent marks. Similarly, students scoring more than 80 percent marks in class 12th are entitled to Rs 15,000 each, while CBSE and ICC board students receive Rs 5,000 each.