SC body seeks action against those involved in scholarship scam

Tribune News Service

Patiala, December 18

Following the alleged scams in the post-matric scholarship scheme in Punjab, the National Scheduled Castes Alliance (NSCA), held a protest march- ‘Parda Faash’ – here on Wednesday. The march was organised from Samana to Patiala. The association said the protest was staged to warn the government to take action against culprits involved in fraud in the post-matric scholarship scheme.

Addressing the crowd here in Samana, Paramjit Singh Kainth, President of the NSCA, highlighted the numerous scams in the post-matric scholarship scheme in the state.

The protesters said the CAG report published in 2018 contains the results of performance audit on the implementation of the ‘Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Caste Students’ in Punjab. The audit findings mentioned in the report included diversion of scholarship funds, denial/short reimbursement of scholarship, excess payment of scholarship and scholarship paid to ineligible students.

The NSCA demanded that the perpetrators of the financial fraud should be legally prosecuted and the amount which was siphoned off for personal use should also be recovered.

Kainth further asked the state government to setup special investigation cell to investigate more frauds as highlighted by the CAG report as well as other cases which have surfaced till now.