Tribal Affairs Department Begins Electronic Disbursal of Post-Matric Scholarships in Jammu Kashmir | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Jammu Kashmir’s Tribal Affairs Department has commenced the electronic release of Post-Matric Scholarships to eligible Scheduled Tribe (ST-I and ST-II) students, providing relief to thousands of beneficiaries after prolonged delays, officials said.

The disbursal had been postponed due to technical issues arising from the transition from the SNA system to the SNA–SPARSH platform. Problems related to data migration and integration across digital platforms had delayed the transfer, despite funds being released on time by the department.

Student associations, civil society groups, and social activists had repeatedly urged authorities to resolve the issue, citing the adverse impact on the educational pursuits of tribal students.

The National Informatics Centre (NIC) has now successfully resolved the technical challenges, making Jammu  Kashmir the first Union Territory in the country to complete the SNA-to-SNA SPARSH transition. Following this, the scholarship disbursal process has formally begun.

An amount of Rs 16.65 crore is being transferred directly to the bank accounts of eligible students who applied through the online portal, ensuring prompt benefit delivery.

Javed Ahmed Rana, Minister for Tribal Affairs, personally monitored the process and directed officials to expedite the electronic disbursal to prevent further disruption to students’ education.

The department assured that all eligible beneficiaries would receive their scholarships at the earliest, reinforcing the government’s commitment to the educational empowerment of tribal communities.