Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma today released the first installment of the Umbrella Post-Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Tribe students for Academic Year 2025-26 at a programme held at Shillong College in presence of Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui.
For the current academic year, 96,812 applications from ST students across Meghalaya have been verified, with a total estimated expenditure of Rs. 198.42 crore. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India has conveyed a Central share of Rs. 84.55 crore, with the State Government sanctioning its 10% share of Rs. 9.40 crore to ensure no delay.
Today, Rs. 93.698 crore was released as the first installment to all 96,812 beneficiaries across all districts, through Direct Benefit Transfer directly into students’ bank accounts.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said this release was about more than money. “It is tuition fees that will now be paid on time, it is hostel dues that will no longer weigh on a struggling family, it is books and materials that a student will no longer have to do without, and it is the quiet dignity of young men and women who can finally focus on their studies.”
The Chief Minister explained the delay and the new financial system to students with transparency. He said that in previous years, releases from Government of India used to be very late. Last year, the State Government had advanced the money before Christmas from its own exchequer and later adjusted it against Central funds.
This year, the Finance Ministry, Government of India has introduced a new Single Nodal Agency (SNA) mode for real-time transactions. Under SNA, funds no longer come to the Ministry or the State Government. On completion of paperwork and verification by the State, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) directly transfers the money to the student’s account.
“Earlier, the Ministry would reimburse us. Now if I give advance to you, RBI will also transfer directly to you, you will get double. So my window to give advance closed, but a new window of direct funding opened,” the Chief Minister said.
“We applied political pressure and ensured the first installment of 40% was released immediately. That is what we are releasing today.”
He informed students that unlike last year’s bulk state transfer, RBI will now process 96,812 accounts one by one under SNA, which also handles thousands of schemes across the country. The process may therefore take 4 to 5 working days.
RBI has assured a maximum of 5 working days. The Chief Minister urged students not to panic if the SMS does not come today, noting that the process has started with today’s button press, despite the intervening holidays of Raksha Bandhan, Saturday and Sunday.
He assured that the Education Department has been directed to treat failed transactions due to incorrect bank details, Aadhaar seeding issues and mismatches as a continuous responsibility, monitoring and re-processing until every eligible student is paid.
The Chief Minister said the scholarship must be seen as part of a foundational reform in education, untangling long-standing knots.
The Chief Minister gave a message to the 18 lakh youth below 20 years in the state. He said apart from qualifications and skills, the greatest quality is the ability to take responsibility and get things done.