The All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) has expressed serious concerns over the utilisation and disbursement of Grant-in-Aid (GIA) funds under the higher education department. In a press release, ANCSU president Kivika Yeptho and general secretary Sotilo Tep stated that an annual provision of Rs. 2.65 crore was made available under the GIA from the state government, but the actual amount disbursed to eligible institutions remained substantially below the total provision.
During the 2025-26 financial year, ANCSU said Rs.1,21,50,000 was disbursed to colleges and other eligible institutions under different categories, accounting for about 46% of the total provision. This means that more than half of the provision consequently remained undistributed to the institutions. The union acknowledged the government’s continued financial support to private and theological colleges and other eligible organisations, but said the pattern of disbursement was a matter of concern.
The union asserted that private and theological colleges rely on GIA as an important source of financial assistance for institutional development and play a significant role in expanding access to higher education, particularly in areas where government institutions remain limited. These institutions contribute to human resource development and serve thousands of students despite financial and infrastructural constraints.
ANCSU has urged the department to undertake a comprehensive review of the GIA mechanism, including the allocation and disbursement of funds to private and theological colleges and other eligible institutions. The union also called for the available GIA provision to be utilised transparently and judiciously, with priority given to its intended beneficiaries.
ANCSU maintained that strengthening the financial foundation of private and theological colleges and other eligible organisations was an investment in the future of higher education and the student community in Nagaland. The union expressed hope that the state government would consider the concerns and take corrective measures in the larger interest of students and higher education in the state.
