Biometric authentication delay: Thousands of K'taka SC students might lose post-matric scholarship
Bengaluru: Delay in biometric authentication by college empowerment officers is proving costly for thousands of Scheduled Caste (SC) students pursuing higher education in the state as the students are in danger of losing their Central government-sponsored post-matriculation scholarship.
Students with an annual family income not exceeding Rs 2.50 lakh are eligible for the post-matric scholarship. Although most students have completed their biometric authentication, the delay by the officers is likely to impact the release of the funds, forcing the Social Welfare Department to remind the Commissioner of Collegiate Education to disburse the scholarship, according to a Deccan Herald report.
The state has a total of 15, 816 private and government colleges and the authentication process has been completed in 9,875 colleges, while the empowerment officers in 5,941 colleges are yet to complete the process. Bengaluru Urban tops the list of pending cases with 1,555 colleges, followed by Kalaburagi (543), Dharwad (368), Belagavi (306), and Vijayapura (269).
A senior officer of the Social Welfare Department explained that the centrally-sponsored scholarship is split 60:40 between the Centre and the state. Biometric authentication is mandatory for both students and the empowerment officer and that if either fails, the scholarship is denied to the student.
The officer further explained that the biometric authentication of a nodal cum empowerment officer of the college is mandatory. The empowerment officer has to visit the nearest taluk-level office of the Social Welfare Department and provide the AISHE code of the college, an authentication certificate from the principal, and their Aadhaar number to complete the authentication process. The Commissioner of Collegiate Education has been requested to instruct the college principals concerned accordingly, the senior officer added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Guv Gehlot wants hate speech and hate crimes bill shelved, says Minister Parameshwara
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Monday alleged that Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has referred the Hate Speech and Hate Crime (Prevention) Bill to the President Droupadi Murmu to dump it in cold storage.
According to the Bill, any expression which is made, published or circulated in words, either spoken or written or by signs or by visible representations or through electronic communication or otherwise, in public view, with an intention to cause injury, disharmony or feelings of enmity or hatred or ill-will against person alive or dead, class or group of persons or community, to meet any prejudicial interest, is hate speech.
The bill seeks at least seven years jail term and a maximum penalty of Rs one lakh.
The bill was passed by both the Houses during the winter session in Belagavi and was sent to Gehlot towards the end of December 2025.
Speaking to reporters here, Parameshwara said the Governor has questioned 28 points in bill and has referred it to the President.
"If the President sends back to us with her observations, then we will do something and send it again (for gubernatorial assent)," he said.
The minister explained that the bill was brought consciously and not just like that.
"We have freedom of speech, but that does not mean that one can say anything. We have to see how it impacts our society. Hence, the bill was introduced," he sought to know.
According to him, there were instances of hate speech, which made the government think of bringing a law.
Targeting the BJP, he said, "If you (BJP) still say that this is not proper, then what are your motives? Should it mean that anyone can abuse anyone? Should we allow any disturbance in society?"
He alleged that the Governor wants this bill is never implemented.
"In my opinion, the Governor has intentionally referred it to the President, so that it does not come into effect. He wants it to be shelved forever," Parameshwara said.
When reporters asked him that the same is happening in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, he said, "Let's see what happens in the coming days. I think things will improve."
