The Tripura government is considering filing First Information Reports (FIRs) against 34 students accused of submitting fraudulent income certificates to secure post-matric scholarships. The Tribal Welfare Department uncovered the alleged forgery during a thorough scrutiny of documents submitted for the 2023-24 academic year through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
According to officials, the students, hailing from various districts, uploaded fake income certificates to falsely establish their eligibility for the scholarship. The department has issued show-cause notices to the accused, demanding explanations by April 16, 2025. Failure to provide satisfactory responses will result in the registration of FIRs against them.
The post-matric scholarship program, which disbursed ₹68.13 crore to over 34,436 tribal students last year, covers the full fees of eligible students pursuing higher education. Officials emphasized that submitting forged documents constitutes embezzlement of public funds, forgery, and cheating, all of which are criminal offenses.
The accused students are from districts including Gomati, Khowai, West Tripura, Sepahijala, Dhalai, South Tripura, North Tripura, and Unakoti. The government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in the scholarship process.
This development highlights the importance of maintaining integrity in accessing public welfare schemes. Stay tuned for updates on this ongoing investigation.
