Punjab CM Amarinder Singh orders release of post-matric SC scholarships
What's the story
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh yesterday ordered the release of the pending post-matric scholarships for Dalit students, warning strict action will be taken against private institutions if they deny admission due to delayed payment.
The directives came at a meeting that followed the completion of an audit of the scholarship disbursement for 2015-16, an official spokesperson said.
Here are more details.
Details
Finance Department ordered to release pending amount Rs. 100cr
Singh asked Finance Department to release the pending amount of Rs. 100cr to the private institutions for 2015-16 by October-end.
He further directed the release of the 2016-17 amount by the November-end.
The CM also asked the Welfare Department to complete the disbursement of the post-matric scholarships for Scheduled Castes by December 31, to ensure timely payment of Center's share towards the scheme.
Information
Govt streamlining disbursements, don't cause inconvenience to students: Singh
Singh, Punjab's 26th CM, asked Social Welfare Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot to hold a meeting with the representatives of private institutions, asking them not to cause inconvenience to any student due to the delayed payment of scholarships, as the state government was streamlining the disbursements.
Additional burden
Center's revised scholarship guidelines may burden Punjab with Rs. 720cr
Singh further asked the Welfare Principal Secretary to immediately review the Center's revised guidelines on post-matric scholarship, which would burden the state with an additional Rs. 720cr.
Singh said he has already raised this issue with PM Modi and would again request him to resolve it, keeping in view the state's dismal financial position, and for securing the future of Dalit students in particular.
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What is the aim of scholarship?
Regarding the issue of making payment of scholarships in case of drop-out Dalit students, Singh asked the Welfare Department to follow the Center's already-prescribed guidelines. The scholarship is being implemented with the objective to provide financial assistance to Dalit students studying at post-matriculation stages.