By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is being set up in Uttarakhand to probe an alleged scam in a minority scholarship scheme.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has already ordered the formation of SIT following the media reports on the alleged irregularities.
A prima facie investigation into the matter has found that some institutions registered on the National Scholarship Portal allegedly received minority scholarships on the basis of fake documents, including some madrasas, Sanskrit schools and other educational institutions, officials said.
As per the data provided by the Central Government for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 sessions, a total of 92 institutions in the state are under scanner, out of which preliminary investigation has confirmed embezzlement of scholarships against 17 institutions. In some cases, the number of students, identity cards (Aadhaar cards) and residence related documents have been found to be fake in these institutions.
Irregularities have been found in institutions like Saraswati Shishu Mandir High School in Udham Singh Nagar district and Vasukedar Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya in Rudraprayag district. Apart from this, some institutions of Nainital, Haridwar and other districts are also under investigation.
The SIT will investigate the matter in depth in which the role of the concerned officials along with the involved institutions will also be reviewed. According to the officials, the central government has given instructions to investigate on seven points in this regard, which includes identifying fake cases and registering FIR against the concerned officials.
“Any kind of irregularity in welfare programs like scholarship in the state will not be tolerated. Strict action will be taken against anyone found guilty,” Dhami said.