Students Allege Bribes Demanded for Kanya Utthan Scheme Enrolment Amid Delays and Dysfunction

Patna: A group of university students have alleged that college employees are demanding bribes of Rs 3,000–Rs 4,000 to register them under the government’s Kanya Utthan Yojana — a scheme meant to provide financial assistance to graduate women in Bihar.

At least half a dozen students from districts including Bettiah, Bagha and Sitamarhi visited the university earlier this week to file complaints and seek clarification. They claimed that a staff member had asked for payment in exchange for uploading their details and results on the scheme’s official portal. The students refused to pay and approached the university authorities for help.

However, according to university officials, the portal itself has not yet been activated at the government level. Dr Alok Pratap Singh, Dean of Student Welfare (DSW), confirmed that the portal remains inaccessible and urged students not to fall prey to middlemen or unofficial intermediaries. “There is no need to pay anyone. The process will begin only after the portal is formally opened,” he said.

In the absence of official communication and functioning systems, many students are returning home disheartened. Several continue to visit the university daily in the hope of updates.

Compounding the issue, the DSW office has reportedly been without internet access for over three months, significantly hampering work related to the Kanya Utthan scheme. Staff said they had previously paid for internet recharges from their own pockets but were not reimbursed, resulting in a breakdown in services.