Welfare schemes to benefit minority students: Dharamsot

Tribune News Service

Patiala, June 26

The Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes Welfare Minister, Punjab, Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, said various welfare schemes being run by the state government for the overall development of youths belonging to the minority communities would prove to be a game-changer and work wonders for them.

Dharamsot said the economic and social uplift of Sikh, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Parsi and Jain minority communities was the main aim of the Punjab Government, hence, it had started various welfare schemes for youths.

He said as per the 'Merit-cum-means based scholarship scheme', students pursuing courses in the Punjab Government recognised state and national-level institutions such as IITs, IIMs and those studying for technical or professional courses of graduate/postgraduate level would be benefitted.

He also said the students hailing from the minority community studying in institutions of Punjab and living in hostels would be given scholarship to the tune of Rs 10,000 annually (Rs 1,000 per month for 10 months duration) and those studying in national-level institutions such as IITs, IIMs would be given maximum Rs 20,000 annual scholarship.

Dharamsot also revealed that a scholarship of Rs 5,000 annually (Rs 500 per month for 10 months) would be provided to day scholar students belonging to the minority community who are studying in institutions across the state, while day scholars, who are students of national-level institutions, would be provided a scholarship up to maximum Rs 20,000.

Dharamsot said the family income of those students availing scholarships under the scheme should not exceed Rs 2.50 lakh annually. He also said the eligible students could apply till August 31 through online mode.