The Punjab Government has started the process of getting online applications under the post-matric scholarship scheme for eligible students of scheduled castes and backward classes.Disclosing this here today, the Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes Welfare Minister, Punjab, Mr. Sadhu Singh Dharamsot said that the welfare department has started the Dr. Ambedkar Scholarship Portal from September 25, 2017. He said that Dr. Ambedkar Scholarship portal is an important link to make the process of post matriculation scholarship transparent where students get the facility to apply online and where they do not have to face frustration.He also informed that the eligible SC / BC students can take advantage of these student welfare schemes to pursue studies after matriculation and be able to stand on their feet.Mr. Dharamsot said that according to the schedule released by the welfare department, eligible students can apply online from September 25 to October 24, 2017, While different educational institutions would submit online applications of students from October 25 to November 10, 2017 to the Sanctioning Authority. He informed that the time for sending/forwarding of applications, received from the organizations, to the departments been fixed from 11th November to 4th December, 2017 by the sanctioning authorities.
Similarly, the concerned line department (Technical Education and Industrial Training, Higher Education, School Education) would do the needful regarding the applications received from the sanctioning authority from 5th December till 11th December, 2017 and send these to the welfare department who would complete the entire exercise from 12th-17th December, 2017 and send the compiled proposal to the Union Government.The minister also said that the welfare department has in concurrence with the line departments chalked out significant steps to make the process of multilevel receiving of the applications for scholarship purposes from 2017-18 so as to put a stop to the duplicity and fake students. He said that the process for applying for scholarship is also being attached to the Aadhar number. He further added that before the online submission of the scholarship applications by the students, it would be ensured by them to upload the signed undertaking besides photograph at the portal. Apart from this, the students can also upload attested affidavit on the portal in place of the income certificate.Mr. Dharamsot also divulged that in another important measure, the welfare department has made mandatory the e-signatures of the head of the institution and the sanctioning authority at the time of accepting/forwarding applications by them. During the year 2017-18, if any student or an institution submits fake claims on the online portal then they would be strictly proceeded against. The minister also said that in case any student faces any difficulty while applying online then he/she can contact nodal officer of the line department or the Deputy Director of the welfare department on 0172-2600588.