Mizo Zirlai Paul sit-in protest, demanding urgent funds for students

Aizawl: Hundreds of students, under the auspices of the state apex student body Mizo Zirlai Paul (MZP), staged a demonstration for the second consecutive day in Mizoram on Wednesday demanding immediate distribution of scholarship money to 19,000 students.

Protesters have been protesting in front of the Mizoram Scholarship Board office at Dawrpui Vengthar in the western part of the state capital Aizawl since Tuesday.
They are demanding immediate disbursement of scholarship money to 19,495 students studying within and outside the state.
The Mizo Zirlai Paul (MZP), which led the protest, said it would intensify the protest by barring scholarship board officials from their office from Thursday.

MZP president H Lalthianghlima alleged that the scholarship distribution was delayed because the officials did not fulfill their responsibilities.

He said that the Mizoram government has already received Rs. 1,787.48 lakh funds from the Centre on September 25 for the disbursement of scholarships to students.

However, officials did not take sincere steps to disburse the money to the students, he said.

Leaders of MZP on Tuesday met the state Joint Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and also sent a letter to the Election Commission seeking immediate disbursement of scholarship funds after the scholarship board said that it has to obtain prior permission from the Election Commission due to imposition of model code of conduct.

The student leaders also met state chief secretary Renu Sharma on Wednesday and informed her of the challenges faced by students and the need for immediate disbursement of scholarship funds, MZP sources said.