The Cabinet Ministers, Punjab, Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, Charanjit Singh Channi and Mrs. Aruna Chaudhary have today said that Narendra Modi led Union Government by slashing the Post Matric Scholarship funds has infringed upon the rights of the Dalits and Backward Classes of the State of Punjab and with the barbaric measure the anti-dalit face of the Modi Government has been exposed.In a joint statement here today, the 3 Cabinet Ministers said that with the implementation of the new proposal drafted by the BJP led Union Government regarding the Post Matric Scholarship, the future of scores of youth belonging to SC/BC category would be ruined. The ministers further detailed that the Union Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has replaced the 90:10 ratio formula pertaining to the Post Matric Scholarship worked out between the Center and the State, with a new 60:40 ratio formula. The new formula would put further financial strain on the State Governments’ exchequer on one hand while on the other the SC/BC youth as well as the school going children would be deprived of the higher education.
Rejecting out rightly the new proposal, the Cabinet Ministers demanded that the old formula of sharing the funds must be restored. They further added that the States were till 2018 contributing 10 percent share out of the total Rs. 600 crore but the Modi Government is running away from contributing its share. This has increased the annual burden on the States from Rs. 600 crore to Rs. 750 crore.The Cabinet Ministers also stated that the implementation of the newly proposed formula would lead to reduction in living standard of the SC/BC category youth. It would also put paid to the actual aim of the scholarship scheme i.e. helping the SC/BC youth to make their lives a success and achieve their life goals.The Cabinet Ministers also divulged that the Union Government is proceeding in accordance with the hidden agenda of the RSS to keep the Dalits and people belonging to backward classes away from acquiring education to uplift their lives. They further disclosed that the Punjab Government led by the Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh is fully committed to provide all educational facilities and congenial environment for the same to the SC/BC students. Demanding the rollback of the new proposal, the Cabinet Ministers emphasized the restoration of the old formula.