After ST Students, OBC Students Launch Fresh Protest Over Pending Government Stipends, Allege Indifference by Welfare Department

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, January 20, 2026

A fresh wave of protests has erupted over unpaid government stipends, this time by Other Backward Classes (OBC) students, following earlier demonstrations by tribal college students on the same issue. The agitating students have accused the OBC Welfare Department of unnecessary delays and repeated excuses in releasing long-pending scholarship funds.

A large number of students from the state, pursuing higher education both within Tripura and outside the state, depend heavily on government stipends to continue their studies. However, for the past several months, the payment of these scholarships has remained stalled, pushing students into severe financial distress. Despite repeatedly approaching departmental officials with demands for immediate clearance of dues, students claim they have received nothing beyond assurances and verbal promises.

Expressing growing frustration, students from several educational institutions belonging to the OBC community once again staged a protest in front of the OBC Welfare Department office at Gorkhabasti. The protesters alleged that due to the prolonged non-payment of stipends, many are unable to clear college fees, resulting in mounting pressure and repeated reminders from college authorities. Some students fear that their academic careers may be seriously disrupted if the situation continues.

The students pointed out that they have been visiting the department regularly for nearly a year, only to be told each time that the pending stipend amounts would be released next month. However, even after almost a year has passed, not a single installment has reached many beneficiaries. The absence of any concrete timeline or written assurance has further deepened their sense of uncertainty and resentment.

Adding to their grievances, the protesting students alleged that they are not being allowed to meet senior officials of the department. According to them, no clear or satisfactory response is provided regarding when the arrears will be cleared. This lack of transparency and accountability has led to widespread anger among students.

The protesters also recalled that just a few days earlier, tribal college students had locked the Gorkhabasti office of the department while protesting over similar stipend-related issues, during which an officer was reportedly harassed. Despite such serious incidents, students allege that no effective administrative steps have been taken so far to resolve the core problem.

Furthermore, stipend-deprived students accused a section of departmental officials of behaving in an inhuman manner. Instead of taking initiatives to ensure speedy disbursement of scholarship funds, officials are allegedly focusing on finding minor documentation errors to block or delay payments. Students claim that this deliberate scrutiny is being used as a tool to withhold stipends rather than to facilitate genuine beneficiaries.

The agitating students have demanded immediate release of all pending stipend amounts and effective administrative intervention to safeguard their education. They warned that if the authorities fail to act promptly, they would be compelled to intensify their agitation and launch a larger movement to secure their rightful dues.

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