Mysore/Mysuru: Decrying deep cut in scholarship amount and delay in approval of scholarships to deserving candidates, hundreds of students led by All India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO), staged a protest near old Deputy Commissioner’s Office on Tuesday.

“Scholarships to students of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes and others have not been sanctioned. Those who applied for scholarships during the last academic year are also not given scholarships. Just a few days back, incentives given to children of construction workers have also been slashed,” they said.

Till recent years, students were receiving an annual scholarship amount ranging from Rs.5,000 to Rs. 60,000, but now they are getting only Rs.1,000 to Rs.11,000, the protestors alleged.

Stating that education at all levels have been commercialised and the resultant deep hike in fees has hampered the education of children from poor families, the protestors said that the scholarship amount given to students help them pursue higher education. “But slashing the amount and delay in approval of scholarships has badly affected the education of poor students,” said the aggrieved students.

Urging the Government to use the tax collected from public for education, students said that the cess collected is being deposited in the Labour Welfare Fund which is a result of the hard work of the farmers.

“It should be used solely for the welfare of workers and their families. The State Government must immediately intervene and sanction scholarships and restore the slashed amount to earlier amounts. The Government must help poor students to carve out a good future,” demanded the protestors.

AIDSO District President Subhash, Secretary Chandrakala, office-bearers Nitin, Chandrika, Chandana, Hema and students of Maharaja’s, Yuvaraja’s and Maharani’s Colleges participated in the protest.