Amidst multi-crore SC scholarship scam, JAC blames Punjab govt for delaying release of payments

PATIALA: Amidst multi-crore SC scholarship scam in which cabinet minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot is now embroiled, the Joint Association of Colleges (JAC) has demanded that the inquiry should be completed within 15 days and blamed the govt of delaying the scholarship disbursement in lieu of audits from last 3 years.
Giving an ultimatum to the Punjab government, the JAC comprising around 1,650 colleges of Punjab has demanded a clarification regarding the status of SC scholarship within 15 days after the final investigation into the amidst multi-crore SC scholarship scam ordered by the chief minister.
Jagjit Singh, Chairman, JAC said the government has made the policy of holding the scholarship funds and instead issue statements on the scholarship scams, despite the fact that repeated audits and investigations have already been conducted since 2017.
Singh said during its tenure, the government has failed to adopt a pro education policy to monitor the scholarship scheme to save the education of SC students. "Creating the confusion among the students and colleges of the scams, the government wants to hold back the release the scholarship funds of the SC students,” he said.
Dr Gurmeet Singh Dhaliwal, chairman, JAC said various departments of the government including finance, social welfare and others have conducted many audits in past years for the release of scholarship funds, the records of which are available with the government. But if the government needs more records then the process should completed in next 15 days and scholarship amount of Rs 1850 crore which is pending since last 3 years, should be released.
SS Chattha, General Secretary, JAC said it was the responsibility of the central government to release 100% of the money for this scholarship scheme till the session 2016-17, but for the session 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 neither the central government nor the Punjab government were taking any responsibility. The governments have not clarified any policy for the session 2020-21, due to which the future of the SC students and educational institutions was at stake.
He said this confusion and evasive policy of the government has badly impacted the education structure of the state.