257 ITI students availed facilities under minority as well as ST categories

  • Report tabled by Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha in the assembly
  • These ST students converted and availed facilities under both the categories

Mumbai – In 2023, irregularities were found in the concession availed by trainees from the ‘Scheduled Tribes (ST)’ category while taking admission to Industrial Training Institutes (ITI). A committee was set up for investigation. Mr Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Minister of the Tourism, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, presented the report of this committee before the legislative assembly and legislative council. The committee verified the data of 13,858 students admitted under the ST category. It was observed that 257 students had recorded their religion as other than Hindu. It is a very serious matter and measures will be taken to avoid such things.

1. It was observed that there were students from scheduled tribes category who had converted and availed facilities under both, ST and minority categories.

2. Mr Lodha had ordered a thorough inquiry into the matter during the winter session of the legislative assembly held at Nagpur.

3. The committee will visit the concerned industrial institutes, project officers, ‘Ekatmik Adivasi Vikas Prakalp’ and ‘GramSabha’ to collect information about these 257 students.

4. It has been decided that the committee would extensively study whether students from the ST category, converting to another religion, would be eligible for the facilities extended to the ST.

Editorial Perspective

The Government should order to withdraw all the facilities extended to the students who misused these privileges.