Punjab Unaided Colleges Association (PUCA) has urged Centre Government for the early release of pending 373 Crore meant for SC students under Post Matric Scholarship Scheme in Punjab for the year 2015-16.A delegation of PUCA under the leadership of Dr. Anshu Kataria, President, PUCA recently met with the Union Minister, Sh. Vijay Sampla at his New Delhi Residence to follow the release of pending amount.Dr. Anshu Kataria highlighted that around 373 crore meant for SC students of Punjab of the year 2015-16 is still pending towards Government. Whereas in 2016-17 also the first semester is almost over and a single penny has not been released yet. Around 3.15 lac SC students have applied in the year 2015-16 while 3.45 lac SC students have applied for the year 2016-17 under PMS scheme.
Kataria while talking to Vijay Sampla apprised the problems being faced by the SC students, their parents and Unaided Colleges in Punjab due to delay in the release of Scholarship funds.Kataria further highlighted that the funds earlier released by the Centre Government to the State Government have already been disbursed to the Colleges but still around 373 crore for year 2015-16 is pending towards the Centre Government for which the State Government has sent the fresh bill for the disbursement from Centre.Sampla gave patient hearing to the problems and demands of the Unaided Colleges of Punjab and assured that soon the funds would be released so that students and colleges could made out of the problems from the financial crisis and save the education industry of Punjab.