SC/ST post-matriculate scholarship scheme - Govt misused central funds, allege private institutions
Thursday, 02/10/2014
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20141002/punjab.htm#1
Chandigarh : A large number of government and private educational institutes of the state are awaiting refund of fees on account of students belonging to the SC/ST category under the Centre's post-matriculate scholarship scheme. Over two lakh SC/ST students are studying in 4,403 government and private educational institutes of the state.
The state government has reportedly failed to release funds to the tune of Rs 150 crore to the Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes Welfare Department even as the Centre had already released Rs 437 crore to the state. Sources said the money was received by the Finance Department on August 12.
A large number of private educational institutes are facing financial crisis for want of scholarship funds. Teachers of a large number of such colleges have not received their salaries for the past three months.
The All Punjab Private Engineering College Association, in a complaint to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, has alleged the state government had "misused" the scholarship money.
Manjit Singh, vice-president, Punjab Unaided Technical Institutes' Association, said: "We cannot deny admission to SC/ST students. But at the same time we need funds to run our institutions."
Gulzar Singh Ranike, Minister for Welfare of SCs and BCs, said he was pursuing the matter with the Finance Department. "I have directed the Principal Secretary to take up the matter with the Finance Department authorities. Fee of a large number of SC students is yet to be reimbursed to the colleges," he said. Official sources said though the Finance Department had cleared the file for the release of Rs 184 crore to educational institutions on September 2, the money had not been disbursed.
Of a total of 2.18 lakh beneficiaries, 50 per cent fee of 1.88 lakh students was refunded in February, but the state is yet to refund full fee of as many as 30,000 SC students.
The scheme
Under the 100 per cent centrally sponsored SC/ST post-matriculate scholarship scheme, full fee of an SC or ST student is refunded by the state to educational institutions
Fund crunch hits colleges
The state government has reportedly failed to release Rs 150 crore to the Welfare Department despite receiving Rs 437 crore from the Centre on August 12
Minister Speak
I have directed the Principal Secretary to take up the matter with the Finance Department.- Gulzar Singh Ranike, cabinet minister
