SC scholarship: Centre grants state only Rs 27 cr

Raj Sadosh

Abohar, November 24

The Centre granted state government only Rs 27 crore out of the Rs 535 crore sought by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal under the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for ST and SC.

Leader of Opposition Sunil Jakhar said the NDA government released Rs 280.81 crore for 2013-14 and Rs 376.87 crore for the next year under the scheme.

Jakhar criticised the BJP-led NDA government for its anti-poor policies and failure to work for the interests of the SCs and the STs. He further alleged the state government had failed to pay scholarships to most of the SC students last year.

Badal on March 30 in his letter to Thaavar Chand Gehlot, Union Minister, Social Justice and Empowerment, sought an additional Rs 245 crore for the scheme as the number of SC students had risen to 2.86 lakh. This took the total amount to Rs 535 crore.

On February 6, the Director, state Social Justice and Empowerment, also sought Rs 245 crore for the increased number of beneficiaries.

Jakhar alleged state BJP MP Vijay Sampla, who works in the ministry concerned in New Delhi, also could not get the requisite money for the scheme. A total of Rs 472.80 crore was granted to various states on June 16, of which Punjab got only Rs 27.08 crore.