Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today sought personal intervention of the Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment Mr. Thawar Chand Gehlot for expediting the matter related to release of Rs.245.08 Crore, as backlog of the year 2014-15 and balance amount of year 2015-16, so that the Scheduled Caste students could reap the benefits of post matric scholarship in time. In letter to Mr. Gehlot, the Chief Minister apprised him that under Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Post Matric Scholarship to SC Students” 100% funds were provided by the Government of India (GoI) over and above the committed liability of the State, i.e. Rs.60.80 Crore.
He said that utilization Certificate amounting to Rs.376.87 Crore released as central assistance by the Centre to the State along with the utilization certificate of committed liability of Rs.60.80 Crore of the State during 2014-15 had already been sent to Ministry vide letter February 23, 2015. Badal said that revised proposal for balance allocation for 2014-15 of Rs.245.08 Crore was sent to GoI on February 6, 2015.The Chief Minister further said that during 2015-16 the state government had again sent a proposal, of Rs.835.33 Crore to the Ministry on May 6, 2015 in which Rs.245.08 Crore for 2014-15 benefiting 2,86,395 students and Rs.527.68 Crore for 2015-16 for benefiting 3,15,033 students, requesting the Ministry for its release as central assistance promptly.
He informed that as the matter was pending with the Centre so the institutes and Students were demanding Fees and Maintenance allowance of 2014-15 adding that due to non release of central assistance, various institutions have filed Civil Writ Petitions in the Punjab and Haryana High Court for payment of scholarships. “Number of Court Cases are likely to increase if the pending payments are not released immediately by the Union Government for onward payment to these institutes/colleges” added Mr. Badal.
Making a strong plea for immediate release of backlog as well as the current year amount, the Chief Minister said that the Ministry has released Rs.49.30 Crore as central assistance on June 30, 2015 for the year 2015-16. He said that the amount released to the State was far less in comparison to the demand proposal of Rs.527.68 Crore for the State for 2015-16. Mr. Badal further said that it has been noticed that the allocation was much less than compared to other States like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. However, this amount has been released for 2015-16 without cleaning the pending liability for 2014-15, mentioned the Chief Minister.