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Sunday, Aug 07, 2016 | Last Update : 11:14 AM IST

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Published Aug 6, 2016, 7:14 am IST Updated Aug 6, 2016, 7:42 am IST

NATION (/NATION), IN OTHER NEWS (/NATION/IN-OTHER-NEWS)

Kerala: Fishermen's children denied stipendDECCAN CHRONICLE. | RAKESH NAIR (/byline/rakesh-nair-1)

The stipend request bearing government seal, which heads of

institutions in other states are expected to fill, is served only in

Malayalam.

Representational image

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TECHNOLOGY GALLERY

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The provincial attitude of policy makers has deniedstipend to bright students in fishermen families who got admission in premierhigher education institutions out of the state. With this, poor families have to payhefty fees from their own pockets. The issue is caused by a stipend request formthat is served only in Malayalam. The heads of institutions in other states areexpected to fill them in a language they do not follow in order for state fisheriesdepartment to release stipend.

Aneesha Ani Benedict of Valiyathura, who is a second year post graduate studentin Marine Biology and Ocean Sciences at Adaman Nicobar campus ofPondicherry varsity made headlines recently for bagging a prestigiousscholarship programme in England. However, little is known that her fishermanfather had to pay around Rs 70,000 as her first year fees in spite of being eligibleto get full fees from government.

Similar is the case with Anand R.M. of Valiyathoppu who studies at TERIUniversity, Delhi. Sindhu N of Pulluvila who studies in University of Hyderabadalso has the same problem. “It is rare for off springs of fishermen to qualify innational level examination and get into central universities. They battle socialand economic hurdles. Hence, denial of stipend is a very painful experience forthem,” said Robert Panipilla, Chief Coordinator of an NGO Friends of Marine Life.

Though a government order dated June 9, 2014 ensures stipend similar to thosefor SC/ST students to children of fishermen family, Ms Benedict couldn’t convincefisheries officials on stipend for one year. “Officials maintained that I am noteligible for stipend as I study out of state. Finally after the intervention ofminister J. Mercy Kuttiyamma, fisheries officials gave me this form. It was inMalayalam and I am still stuck up in the process,” Ms Benedict said. Meanwhile,Fisheries officials maintained that such official communications that beargovernment seal will only be in Malayalam and they are still working out to find asolution.

Tags: fishermen (/content/tags/fishermen), stipend (/content/tags/stipend)

Location: India (/location/india), Kerala (/location/india/kerala)

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