Panel to look into discrepancies before Mar 31, says Dharamsot

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 9

Social Welfare and Forest Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot said today that the state government would form a committee to look into the discrepancies in the post-matric scholarship scheme before March 31 next year.

Speaking to mediapersons, he said, “We are looking into cases of defaulters of the post-matric scholarship scheme. An inquiry has been instituted. We have a list of all defaulters. Strict action will be taken against all those who have misappropriated over Rs 50 lakh of funds. Recoveries will be made from those who are defaulting on lesser amounts. Before March 31, a committee will be made in the matter and all defaulters will be punished.”

“We have already cleared some funds of the scholarship scheme, which were pending since the tenure of the previous government. More will be cleared soon,” he added.

He supported the Chief Minster’s decision to skip the Kartarpur Corridor event in Pakistan and condemned the Pakistan Foreign Minister’s ‘Googly’ remark and said the CM would only be in a position to visit the Kartarpur Corridor once there was complete peace in the region.

Earlier in the day, Punjab Assembly speaker Rana KP Singh exhorted youth to preserve the cultural legacy of the state. Addressing the gathering, PPCC chief and Gurdaspur MP Sunil Jakhar asked students to keep their aims high so that they could play a major role in nation-building. Speaking at the event, Dharamsot said efforts must be made to make education and health services accessible to the poor.

Among others present included, Industry minister Sunder Sham Arora, MP Chaudhary Santokh Singh, MLA Sushil Kumar Rinku, Police Commissioner GPS Bhullar, SDM Sanjiv Sharma, Civil Surgeon Rajesh Kumar Bagga.