Misinformation being spread in media, says Anil Baijal

New Delhi: Five days after deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia accused lieutenant governor (L-G) Anil Baijal of blocking the AAP government’s higher education loan scheme, Mr Baijal on Wednesday said his advice to help make the initiative more robust was misconstrued as disapproval.

In a letter addressed to Mr Sisodia, the L-G suggested incorporation of some safeguards, including ensuring responsibilities of the lending institutions and linkage of loan with Aadhar cards in the education loan scheme. 

The L-G, in his letter, said that it was unfortunate that “misinformation was spread in the media” and stressed in today’s world, higher education is no “longer a luxury” and it is essential for national, social and economic development.

Under the education loan scheme, the students are provided loans up to Rs 10 lakh by banks with the government as a guarantor. Mr Sisodia tweeted he had received the letter from Mr Baijal.

“Appreciate his concern for safeguards. But all safeguards r already built into Edu-Loan Scheme. Shall be highlighting them and sending file back to Hon'ble @LtGovDelhi (sic),” Mr Sisodia tweeted.

Last week, Mr Sisodia had accused Mr Baijal of “blocking” the education loan scheme after he had advised the government to consult the Centre before its implementation. 

“In the letter, the L-G has stated it was a pity that his advice to help make this scheme more robust in the interest of the students was misconstrued as disapproval and that this misinformation was spread all over the media,” the L-G office stated in a statement. 

However. Mr Baijal said that any loan scheme should meet the twin criteria of being “need-based” and “generally available”. 

“But at the same time, the challenges of non-availability of loans, high default rate, need for due diligence by banks, equity of access, improper data collection, tracking of students among others also need to be addressed,” the L-G’s office quoted Mr Baijal as saying.

In the past, the lieutenant governor and the AAP government were at loggerheads over a range of issues, including opening of mohallas clinics and transfer and posting of officials.