Row over scholarship: SC/ST students rue lack of funds

JALANDHAR: The parents and students who belong to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe category, on Wednesday presented a memorandum to Pro-Chairman of St Soldier’s Group of Institutions Prince Chopra to safeguard the rights of their children to acquire higher education under the Prime Minister Scholarship Scheme.

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, June 20

The parents and students who belong to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe category, on Wednesday presented a memorandum to Pro-Chairman of St Soldier’s Group of Institutions Prince Chopra to safeguard the rights of their children to acquire higher education under the Prime Minister Scholarship Scheme.

One of the parents Pyaara Singh said, “We have come to know that government has not released the funds of Post Matric Scholarship for the SC and ST students for the last four years to the college authorities. Because of this, colleges have started claiming fee from SC/ST students. We are poor people and cannot afford the expensive education.”

He also said, “The ray of hope came to us in the form of Post Matric Scholarship, but its poor implementation has put the future of SC/ST students and deprived them of acquiring higher education in technical and non-technical education.”

Inderjeet, a student said, “We felt as if we have been cheated by the government. They initially mentioned in their policy to remit our fee to the colleges, but now as the college authorities have told the ground reality to us, we are in shock and we feel that we have been pushed back again in the society. Our community has taken the firm stand to fight against this injustice. We will call for protest till government responds to our demands.”

Prince Chopra on this occasion mentioned that, “The institution is working to safeguard the right of education of the members of SC/ST, but at the same, we seek the cooperation of the government for the same.”

He assured the parents and students that he would pass this memorandum to Chief Minister of Punjab on their scheduled meeting on June 22.”

Cause of concern for SC/ST students

The govt has not released the funds of Post Matric Scholarship for the SC and ST students for the last four years to the college authorities. Because of this, colleges have started claiming fee from SC/ST students.