Centre withholds Rs 930 cr for Punjab under Scheduled Caste scholarship plan

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 8

Delay on part of Punjab in releasing around Rs 250 crore to Scheduled Caste (SC) students enrolled with government educational institutions from 2017 to 2020 has resulted in the Centre withholding Rs 930 crore under the SC Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme.

The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has made it clear that the Centre will release its share of 60 per cent only after the state pays up its 40 per cent share.

So far, the state has released Rs 366 crore for students enrolled with private educational institutions, but Rs 250 crore for students of government institutions is still pending, said government sources. The scholarship includes Rs 120 crore fee component and Rs 140 crore maintenance charges.

Dr Baljit Kaur, state Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, said the matter was being taken up with the Finance Department and the dues of students enrolled with government colleges would be cleared.

During Capt Amarinder Singh-led Congress government in Punjab, the Centre did not release its share as the scheme ended in 2016-2017 as part of the 12th Five-Year Plan, said the sources. The Centre did not provide any funds between 2017 and 2020, accusing the state government of continuing the scheme for political gains.

During this period, many students graduated but the colleges were not compensated. As a result, there was a drastic fall in enrolment of SC students between 2017 and 2022. However, in 2021, the Centre restarted the scheme in 60:40 ratio.

BJP Rajya Sabha member Satnam Singh Sandhu recently raised the issue of scholarship arrears in Punjab. “The previous state government in Punjab did injustice to these students. Despite the liability of the state government, the funds were not released to SC students of Punjab,” he stated through ‘Special Mention’ in the Rajya Sabha.