Assembly members take Mah Govt to task on OBC scholarship amount

Mumbai, Apr 16 (UNI) Treasury benches and opposition members in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly took the state government to task today for its apathy towards increasing the amount of scholarship to Other Backward Castes (OBC) and nomadic tribes.

The House had to be adjourned twice--15 minutes and later for ten minutes--as members cutting across party lines entered the well and shouted slogans.

Later, they squatted in the well in support of their demand.

The members said the budget had not made provisions for implementing the Savitribai Phule scheme for girls belonging to OBC, nor it had made any provision for increasing the amount of scholarship to OBC and nomadic tribes.

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said his government was committed to the education of OBC and had in principle accepted the demand for an increase in the amount of scholarship to the OBC students.

Mr Deshmukh said it was not possible for the government to accept the members' demand that an assurance be given in the House itself.

''We are just asking for 15 days to examine the financial implication and final approval of the cabinet in this regard,'' he added.

UNI