As per directions of CM Punjab,Principal Secretary Social Justice Kirpa Shankar Saroj today had a meeting with students and college authorities in jalandhar to assess the difficulties being faced by SC students for getting the benefits of Post Matric Scholarship scheme. Chairing a meeting with the students and college management here at conference hall of the District Administrative Complex, the Principal Secretary, accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Mr Varinder Kumar Sharma and Commissioner of Police Mr Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, said that students from the region have brought into his notice some violations being done by the educational institutions in the implementation of the scheme. He said that the state government led by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh was committed for effective implementation of the scheme. So, Mr Saroj said that a minute enquiry would be undertaken by the department.Reiterating firm commitment of the state government to implement this scheme in right earnest, the Principal Secretary said that no stone was being left unturned for this noble cause. He said that the Union government has not released the funds for scholarship of the year 2017-18 and 2018-19 but Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh was constantly taking up this issue with the Union government.
Mr Saroj said that the state government has already released the pending amount under the OBC and Minority scholarship scheme.On the complaints of students that there degrees were being withheld by the colleges for non payment of fees, the Principal Secretary warned such educational institutions of strict action. He said that this was a criminal offence and severest of severe action would be taken against the erring institutions. Giving a major relief to the students Mr Saroj said that portal for registration of students under the scheme would be specially opened on February 26th, 27th and 28th. The Principal Secretary further said that the issue of rescheduling the opening and closing of post matric scholarship scheme would also be explored. He said that the possibility of issuing degrees to the students directly would also be examined.On the occasion Deputy Commissioner Mr Varinder Kumar Sharma, Commissioner of Police Mr Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, Deputy Commissioner of Police Mr Balkar Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner Mr Jasbir Singh, Sub Divisional Magistrate Dr Jai Inder Singh, District Welfare Officer Mr Rajinder Singh, Tehsil Welfare Officer Ms Sarabjeet Kaur and others were also present.