60 Dalit students from Bihar studying at Rajdhani Engineering College in Bhubneshwar have threatened to commit suicide after they were forced to leave the college and hostel. The action from the college administration came after Bihar government failed to pay their stipend despite several reminders sent to it from the college.

The students had taken admission in Rajdhani Engineering College in 2014 under the Dalit stipend scheme of the Bihar government. 18 students were from Motihari while the remaining 42 students were from Bettiah district.

Some of the students have already returned to Bihar and are staring at a bleak future. These second year students are angry with the state government for its lackadaisical attitude. According to students, the college administration provided them free education, boarding and lodging for more than a year but later refused to carry with free services. The stipend which Bihar government has to give to these students is approximately Rs 1,10,000 per student annually.

However, the Bihar government which came to know about the plight of the students have admitted that there has been a delay in depositing the stipend money but are promising to do the needful on priority basis. While Deputy CM Tejaswi Yadav has advised students not to take dire steps like committing suicide, SC-ST Minister Santosh Nirala is putting the blame for delay in discrepancies in bank account numbers provided by students.

Opposition BJP has also lashed out at the Nitish Kumar government and are toeing the regular line of demanding a probe into the matter.

Bihar Deputy CM Tejaswi Yadav said, "I will talk to officials. I have come to know about the matter from media. The students should not commit suicide. Suicide is not of any benefit. We will try to solve the issue."

"I have come to know about the matter yesterday?there was some discrepancies relating to bank account number provided by students because of which amount could not be credited into their accounts. Soon we will deposit amount and nobody would be denied stipend. Some delay is also because of verification of documents that takes time. We are sensitive towards SC-ST students. There is minor mistake and we will get it rectified today," said Janata Dal (United) Leader Santosh Kumar Nirala, an MLA from Rajpur Constituency.

"The government should immediately deposit fees of these students. There are thousands of students whose money has not been deposited. Government should conduct high level inquiry over the delay of one and half year?the govt should bring transparency in the process of giving money to students," said Sushil Modi, BJP Leader.

Also read:

Rohith Vemula offered namaz for Yakub Memon, organised beef parties: BJP's Kailash Vijayvargiya

Rohith Vemula was not a Dalit, says Sushma Swaraj

