Assam Tea Tribes Students Association (ATTSA) seeks increments in aid to tea tribe students

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Assam Tea Tribes Students Association (ATTSA) wrote a letter to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today seeking increments of financial assistance to the Tea Tribes students under various schemes under the Directorate of Tea Tribe Welfare.

ATTSA president Dhiraj Gowala said, "The Tribes Community are thankful to the Government of Assam for adopting various schemes for uplifting the community socio-economically as well as in the field of education, health, culture, literature, sports etc., through the Directorate of Tea Tribes Welfare. But from the last few years, it has been observed that the amount fixed for various schemes is much less for the students or beneficiaries to meet the expenses of admission in classes, courses, higher education or books. The financial assistance fixed for self-employment of the Tea Tribes Community-educated youths Swahid Dayal Das Panika Swa Niyojon Ashoni is Rs 25,000. It is so meagre that no beneficiary can make a new startup with this. Instead of benefiting or uplifting the poor community, the financial assistance turned unproductive.

"Therefore, we would like to suggest to the Government and the Directorate of Tea Tribes Welfare that the financial amount fixed for various schemes should be scientific and productive."

The ATTSA has demanded a hike in Tea Tribe Post-Matriculation Scholarship to Rs 20,000 from the current Rs 5,000 per annum, TDC scholarship to Rs 30,000 from Rs 7,000, Tea Tribe Pre-Matriculation Scholarship to Rs 30,000 from Rs 10,000, Simon Shing Horo Scheme to Rs 20,000 from Rs 10,000, financial assistance to ANM/GNM to Rs 50,000 from Rs 10,000, technical education scholarship to Rs 50,000, proposal assistance to higher studies to Rs 75,000 from Rs 50,000, proposal assistance for medical and engineering education Rs 1 lakh, proposal assistance to ITI and other vocational course Rs 35,000, assistance for B.Sc Nursing and D Pharm Rs 50,000 per year, coaching for APSC/UPSC etc., Rs 1 lakh per course etc. 

Also Read: ATTSA protests alleged grabbing of tea garden worker's land in Dibrugarh

Also Watch: Droupadi Murmu Takes Oath As 15th President of India