PUTIA demands release of pending Rs 250cr scholarships

CHANDIGARH: President of Punjab Unaided Technical Institutions Association (PUTIA) JS Dhaliwal on Wednesday requested the Punjab government to release the balance amount meant for post-matric scholarship of Punjab and urged the state to take up the issue with the union government.A delegation of PUTIA led by its vice president Anshu Kataria also met Alaknanda Dayal, director, Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes. The delegation requested the immediate release of the balance amount of Rs 250 crores, meant for scholarships for the students from scheduled castes in Punjab.
“At the moment, a large number of SC students are studying in these unaided technical institutions under Post-Matric scholarship scheme and the Punjab government has only released the partial payment while half payment is still pending with the central government. Due to this, hardships are being faced by the colleges, students and parents as well,” Dhaliwal said.Kataria said that more than 400 unaided technical institutions of Punjab and students were facing problem due to delay in the release of funds. “Hundreds of well-established technical institutions of Punjab are facing financial crisis and are on the verge of closure due to the delay in release of scholarship funds,” he added.
PUTIA has been pressing for the release of the amount of over Rs 250crore that is due towards Punjab Government against Post Matric Scholarship. It added that because of the non-payment, there was resentment amongst 400 unaided technical institutions of Punjab.