SALEM: Former Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK chief MK Stalin criticised the TVK government over delays in disbursing funds under the Annal Ambedkar Overseas Higher Education Scholarship Scheme, citing financial distress among SC/ST students studying abroad.Citing an RTI reply reported by TOI, Stalin said only 65 of the 164 students who had joined foreign universities in the current academic year had received scholarship assistance.“How govt would explain the delay affecting the remaining students,” Stalin claimed in his ‘X’ platform.Stalin questioned the government’s intent and alleged bias against the welfare scheme. He asked why students were being pushed into mental distress and hardship as tuition fee payments remained pending despite their submitting all the required documents.“Such delays would discourage marginalised youth from pursuing higher education abroad,” he warned.He accused the TVK administration of attempting to dismantle a scheme that had been implemented effectively under the previous “Dravidian Model” government. He said that although the term “social justice” had been added to the department’s name, it was absent in practice.According to the TOI report, the state government selected 365 candidates for the 2026-27 academic year, of whom 164 had enrolled at universities across the world, including in the UK, UAE, Canada and Ireland. The government disbursed Rs 19.53 crore to 65 students.The remaining scholars and their families reported eviction threats, pressure from universities over unpaid fees and mounting debt due to prolonged verification processes.Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department secretary Dr N Subbaiyan told TOI that the matter would be examined with the section concerned and necessary steps would be taken.
