₹500 Were Being Collected from Students for Lokbhavan's 'Free Internship', Scam Exposed
Bhagalpur: When corruption infiltrates the temples of education, it is the youth who bear the brunt of it. A major controversy has emerged regarding an internship program run by an organization named 'Lokbhavan' in Bhagalpur. It was claimed that this internship was entirely 'free', but in reality, an illegal extortion of ₹500 was being collected from each student under the guise of registration and other fees. Since this exposure, there has been massive outrage among local student organizations and parents.
What is the Whole Matter?
Lokbhavan recently announced an internship program for undergraduate and postgraduate students in the region. Through advertisements and social media posts, students were assured that this was a 'skill development' initiative and no fee would be charged. Students hoped that this internship would provide them with practical knowledge and experience.
However, when students arrived for registration, they were told that it was mandatory to pay ₹500 as a 'nominal fee' for technical processes, ID cards, and other administrative tasks. Many economically weaker students managed to gather this amount through hard labor, but later they neither received any official receipt nor a clear schedule for the internship.
Students' Anger Erupts
As soon as they realized the fraud, the victimized students started raising their voices. On Tuesday, dozens of students gathered outside the Lokbhavan office and demanded an explanation from the management. The students alleged that they had been misled in the name of an internship.
Expressing her pain, a victimized female student said, "We were told that this was a government-supported or free initiative. ₹500 is a big amount for a poor student. We came here to learn skills, not to fall victim to a scam."
Administration's Silence and Question Marks
When the organization's management was questioned about this, they tried to wash their hands of it by labeling it a 'Registration Fee'. But the big question is, if the internship was free, then why this fee? Does the organization have any legal basis for this collection?
The local administration and the education department have maintained complete silence on this matter so far. Social activists say that such organizations are taking advantage of the lack of monitoring over private training centers operating in the city.
The Strategy of Trapping in the 'Free' Web
According to experts, this could be part of a well-planned scam. Capitalizing on youth unemployment and their desire for skill development, such organizations attract a large number of students by dangling the lure of a 'free' course. If even a single batch consists of 200 students, an illegal income of ₹1 Lakh is easily made in one go at the rate of ₹500 per student.
The Road Ahead: What Will the Students Do?
Student organizations have now decided to take this matter to the District Magistrate (DM). They have demanded that:
The illegal amount taken from the students by Lokbhavan must be refunded immediately.
A thorough investigation of the entire episode should be conducted to determine if the organization has any valid license or recognition to conduct internships.
Other private educational institutions in the district should also be investigated so that no other student faces this in the future.
This incident once again serves as a warning to students that before joining any internship or course, they must thoroughly verify the credibility and rules of the organization. If an institution demands money alongside claims of it being 'free', it is essential to exercise caution.
Illegally extorting money from students in the name of education and skills is not only unethical but also a criminal offense. The Lokbhavan case is a warning for the administration to tighten its grip on educational centers. The exploitation of students' hard work and dreams in this manner must come to an end.
