Release scholarship dues, Capt Amarinder urges PM Modi

Chandigarh, June 10

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking release of state’s pending amount under the Post-Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Castes for the 2017-20 period.

The CM pointed out that in his earlier letters on October 2018 and February 2020, he had brought to the PM’s notice the state’s concern regarding the outstanding demand under the scheme.

An amount of Rs 1,563 crore for period between 2017 and 2020 was still pending with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, for release as central share under the scheme, he said, adding no response had yet been received to those letters.

Pointing out that Punjab had the highest percentage of SC population in the country, the CM said the state deserved special attention on the count. Further, being a border state, it needed to be ensured its youth got the opportunity of education and employment so that they did not fall prey to anti-social and anti-national elements. — TNS