Delegation of PUCA meets minister of state for commerce and industry

Ludhiana: A delegation of Punjab Unaided Colleges Association (PUCA) met Som Prakash, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry in which Ex MP Sher Singh Ghubaya and Dr. Anshu Kataria, President, PUCA were present.

President, PUCA, Dr. Anshu Kataria said that Rs 415.60 crore of Post Matric Scholarship (PMS) scheme for the year 2016-17, Rs 538 cr for the year 2017-18; Rs 437.19cr for the Year 2018-19 due till now. This total of around 1400 Crore is due towards the Centre Govt which has created financial crunch in colleges of Punjab.

Som Prakash while giving patience hearing said that he will discuss this matter with  Thawar Chand Gehlot, Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment and will get the pending amount released as soon as possible.

Kataria further said that when the funds for almost over 3 years have not been released to the colleges then how the colleges would survive. If the pending scholarship would not be disbursed in time then the colleges would be in biggest ever financial trouble.

Ex-MP Sher Singh Ghubaya said that centre has clearly told that PMS scheme would fall under 60:40 scheme while Punjab Government has rejected this proposal of centre. This confusion between the centre and state government may adversely affect the career of the students as well as the colleges.