The Punjab State Commission for Scheduled Castes today assured that there will be no halt in ongoing Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for SC Students in the state and it will be continued.Rajesh Bagha, Chiarman of SC Commission, said that the commission has already discussed the issue with Gulzar Singh Ranike, Minister for Welfare of SC/BC, who has directed Welfare Department to continue the scheme keeping in view interests of Scheduled Castes students. The Chairman informed that he personally discussed the issue with Director Welfare Mr. Paramjit Singh to avoid the unnecessary harassment being faced by SC Students, covered under the ambit of the scheme, at various educational institutes.
The Chairman gave this assurance while meeting with high level delegation of Bahujan Samaj Party led by its former state president Gurlal Saila, Dr. Nachattar Pal, General Secretary State BSP and Mr. Avtar Singh Sikri, Member National SC Morcha of BJP. The delegation accompanied by affected students from various districts of Punjab apprised that thousands of SC Students with maximum family income of Rs. 2.5 lakh annually were facing several problems to pursue their studies in different schools and colleges since the managements of respective institutes were demanding hefty fees, which they were unable to pay. They alleged the managements and institutes were clarifying that they were instructed by the Punjab Government to collect the fee before giving admission as the Scheme has been withdrawn. The delegation also raised the demand to four fold increase in annual family income from Rs. 2.5 lakh to 10 lakh and inclusion of needy students from General Category under this scheme.
After hearing the issues of delegation patiently, the Chairman assured that interests of SC students eligible for Post Matric Scholarship would be protected at any cost. He said the Commission has dispatched a charter of recommendations to Punjab Government in this regard, so the scheme could remain in process.On other demands of the delegation, Mr. Bagha said they will take up the issues with Union Minister for SC/BC Welfare and Social Security Mr. Thawar Chand Gehlot. Bagha also felicitated Technical Education Minister Mr. Madan Mohan Mittal directing technical institutions not to collect fee from SC Students, who have maximum family income up to Rs. 2.5 lakh annually.