Kannur: Students find themselves in a spot as the procedures for the State Merit Scholarship and Encourage Talent Scholarship, which were announced by the Directorate of Collegiate Education by consolidating 11 scholarships, have yet to be completed. Applications have not been invited for these two scholarships this time either.

Since the announcement of the consolidation, fresh applications have not been accepted for the previous 11 scholarships for two years. The only option available is to renew.

The State Merit Scholarship was introduced by consolidating scholarships for the children of school teachers, scholarships for dependent wards of ex-servicemen, IAS training scholarships (SC-ST), music and fine arts scholarships, state merit scholarships, Muslim Nadar girls scholarships, Sanskrit scholarships, Hindi scholarships, and Suvarna Jubilee Merit scholarships. The Encourage Talent Scholarship has replaced Encourage Talent in Literature and Encourage Talent in Music Arts and Performing Arts.

Some of these scholarships have had no applicants for years due to the meagre amounts and delays in disbursal. Certain other scholarships offered by the Directorate of Collegiate Education have also witnessed a significant dropout of applicants.

Scholarships & grants:
Muslim Nadar girls scholarship: Rs 125 (annual)
Scholarship for the children of school teachers: Rs 50 (monthly)
State Merit Scholarship - Degree: Rs 1250, PG: Rs 1500 (annual)
Sanskrit scholarship: Rs 2000 (annual)
Hindi scholarship - Degree: Rs 5000, PG: Rs 10,000 (annual)